One startup is using mismatched socks to raise awareness about and bring aid to preventable blindness and visual impairment. Based out of San Francisco, SWAP Socks is currently seeking finances via crowdfunding platform Indiegogo. One $32 pack of SWAP Socks contains four different but complementary sock patterns for the wearer to mix and match as he or she pleases. The social enterprise donates 50% of its profits to the Seva Foundation, an eye care charitable organization.
Founders Cole Page, Match du Toit and Roger Nahum intend to make a difference by creating a fashion statement to combat preventable blindness. While approximately 285 million people worldwide are visually impaired, SWAP Socks states about 80% of that accounts for preventable blindness and 90% occurs in developing countries without access to optometrical care.
Blindness Fighting Socks
This Startup is Taking on Preventable Blindness with Mismatched Socks
Trend Themes
1. Mismatched Socks - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a line of mismatched socks that raise awareness and funds for various charitable causes.
2. Preventable Blindness - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a technology or solution that helps detect and prevent preventable blindness in developing countries.
3. Social Enterprises - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Establish more social enterprises that combine fashion or lifestyle products with a charitable cause to create positive social impact.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate charitable initiatives into fashion brands and leverage consumer interest to support worthy causes.
2. Healthcare - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop innovative technologies and accessible healthcare solutions to tackle preventable blindness on a global scale.
3. E-commerce - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Build e-commerce platforms that connect consumers with fashion products that contribute to charitable organizations, promoting social consciousness in online shopping.