Coco Leni is a sustainable eyewear brand that has cracked the code of how to combine precision with comfort to create frames and sunglasses that’ll make you think, “Why don’t I own a pair?”
The eyewear brand hopes to be synonymous with the words ‘greener future’. The founder and CEO, Arjun Sagar, who steers the ship at Coco Leni, honed his craft in the old-world charm of East Germany and perfected it on the sunny, laid-back beaches of Goa. His vision? To create timeless eyewear with soul.
Coco Leni’s journey started in a quaint town in East Germany. Amidst the post-war rubble and rebuilding, Arjun found his inspiration for his vision: “I lived in a small town, almost a village,” Arjun recalls. “The people there were isolated for decades due to the Iron Curtain. They still held onto old-world values – craftsmanship, resilience, and a focus on making things to last a lifetime.” This philosophy became the cornerstone of Coco Leni’s ethos.
The little town’s handwork meisters – artisans with at least a decade of experience in intricate handcrafting – left an indelible mark on Arjun. These masters would painstakingly create wooden dollhouses and windmill replicas with unmatched precision. For Arjun, their dedication to craft resonated deeply. “They weren’t driven solely by profit,” he says. “It was about creating something meaningful and enduring.”
Building a Vision
Arjun went on this voyage to start a company, collaborating with a local partner, Matthias. “We began selling eyewear in Germany, and I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years now,” Arjun says. Over time, his experiences in global eyewear manufacturing – spanning factories in China, Germany, and beyond – gave him an intimate understanding of both design and production.
The idea of Coco Leni began taking shape as Arjun noticed gaps in the market: no one had an eyewear brand that combined sustainable craftsmanship with unparalleled style. Drawing from traditional and natural materials like bio-acetate and horn – used in eyewear long before plastic became the norm – he envisioned a product that was not only beautiful but also environmentally conscious.
“Bio-acetate has been around for almost 100 years,” he explains. “It’s essentially made from cotton and is biodegradable. Similarly, horn, one of the earliest materials used in frames, leaves no trace on the environment – it’s entirely natural.” By revisiting these materials and refining the manufacturing process, Coco Leni set out to create frames that were not only sustainable but also durable enough to last a lifetime.
A Slow Living Ethos
After four years in Germany, Arjun returned to India, but not to the bustling cities of Delhi or Mumbai. He chose Goa – a place synonymous with slow living. “There’s no fast living here,” he laughs. “Even if you want to rush, the pace of life forces you to slow down.” This philosophy of balance permeates Coco Leni, where creativity thrives in a deliberate, unhurried environment, just like that of the handwork meisters.
Arjun established Coco Leni’s workshop in Goa, training local artisans – majorly women – to create frames by hand. Each pair is a testament to the brand’s commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability, and community.
Sustainability Meets Style
For Coco Leni, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword – it’s etched into the essence of every frame they create. The brand’s latest collection, Sustain, reflects this philosophy. “We optimised production to minimise waste, “ Arjun explains. “For instance, we pre-make components that are common across frames, so nothing is wasted. Each frame is assembled only after an order is placed.”
The Sustain collection embodies Coco Leni’s patent aesthetic: bold, distinctive, and unmistakably theirs. “When someone wears a Coco Leni frame, you can immediately tell,” Arjun says. “It’s not just about looking good – it’s about feeling good, knowing you’ve invested in something meaningful.”
On making their eyewear accessible to a younger audience that does not see beyond the price point, Coco Leni aims to get them to invest in pieces that last a lifetime. “Convincing younger audiences, especially Gen Z, to invest in sustainable luxury eyewear was tough,” Arjun admits. “They want to look good, but the cost is a big factor.” By eliminating middlemen and retailing directly through its website, Coco Leni has managed to strike a balance, offering high-quality, handcrafted eyewear at accessible prices.
The Culture Behind The Craft
Beyond sustainability and style, Coco Leni’s frames tell deeply personal stories. Take the Warrior Collection, inspired by Arjun’s grandfather, who was forced to migrate during India’s Partition. “In his village, the eldest son had to become a Sardar – a warrior – and join the army,” Arjun shares. “That courage is something I wanted to embody in our frames.”
Coco Leni is also experimenting with incorporating Indian artistry into its designs, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern functionality. “Most eyewear designs borrow heavily from Western aesthetics,” Arjun notes. “We want to bring elements of Indian culture into our frames – something that hasn’t been done before.”
Looking Ahead
As Coco Leni continues to grow, the brand’s vision remains steadfast. Arjun is excited about upcoming collections featuring sterling silver and intricate Indian motifs, pushing the boundaries of what eyewear can represent. The brand is also making waves internationally, with nearly half of its revenue now coming from global markets.
For Arjun, Coco Leni isn’t just an eyewear brand – it’s a statement of courage, sustainability, and individuality. “We’re not just making frames,” he says. “We’re crafting stories – stories that last a lifetime.”
