Afro-Latinx twins Corianna and Brianna Dotson, better known as Coco and Breezy, rose to prominence within the high-end fashion industry with the 2009 launch of their sunglass brand Coco and Breezy. Their designs quickly earned them celebrity clientele like Beyonce, Gaga, Rihanna, Serena, and late music icon Prince. As Coco and Breezy enters its tenth year of operation, the sisters are raising capital to scale their business and turning their focus to ocular health.
According to a 2017 study from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 26.9 million adult Americans suffer from vision impairment including blindness. Statistics show that African Americans, and Black women, in particular, face a faster rate of visual impairment compared to Latinx and Asian communities. African Americans also have an increased risk of diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, two conditions that often show no warning signs and can lead to vision loss and blindness.
It’s data like this that encouraged Coco and Breezy to adapt their lens style to protect consumers’ eyes from blue light. Although environmentally friendly, the blue light that is emitted from our computer and telephone screens has the potential to disrupt our biological clocks and suppress melatonin secretion, with potential ties to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity — all conditions which disproportionately impact the Black community.
Even those with perfect vision should be discerning about their sunglasses selections, as cheaper models often fail to protect from UVA and UVB rays. Extended exposure to the sun’s UV rays has been linked to cataracts, macular degeneration, pingueculae, pterygia, and photokeratitis. With Coco and Breezy eyewear, customers can be confident that their eyes are being protected, regardless of their prescription needs.
In an interview with Vibe, Breezy said that the pair hopes to expand the conversation around eyewear to place more emphasis on the importance of eye health.
“We’re very passionate about the health of eyes. I think a lot of times with the fashion magazines and through TV, there’s a miseducated narrative. You hear glasses are only for the summertime or glasses are only for prescription but our goal is to use our voice and our platform and our company to let people know it’s actually important to check the health of your eyes.”
Coco and Breezy eyewear is now available in 400 retail locations across the US and Canada as well as online. Customers can even schedule a private shopping appointment at the twin’s New York City showroom.