Press information
Andy Wolf combines style with social responsibility
A piece of home – not seen through rose-coloured glasses
Andy Wolf showed with its first collection of glasses from 2006 that the Austrian label is counting on values. Values like homeland ties, quality, uniqueness, attention to detail and social responsibility – these values are not only applied on their employees but also on the environment. This is why the magazine of the collection “Opposite of Sleeping Rough” is not portraying glasses but instead people from the VinziDorf in Graz, a social institution that gives shelter to homeless people.
Besides timeless chic the design of the Andy Wolf collection also transports a statement: the elaborate glasses are entirely manufactured in the Styrian city Hartberg. “We are not interested in outsourcing our production process to low-wage countries in order to reduce costs. Each pair of glasses is a unique handcraft – a high quality product made to 100 percent in Austria. Quality that could not be reached with mass production”, comments Katharina Plattner, managing partner of Andy Wolf.
“Especially now within the economic crisis we are proud to guarantee and create jobs in Austria. For that reason Andy Wolf is more than fashion”. The Andy Wolf magazine shows people who received help by the outstanding social institution VinziDorf after having lost their perspectives.
Pioneers who give shelter
Since 1993 the Vinzi community is situated in the Styrian capital Graz and offers homeless people shelter and a live in dignity. “Due to the VinziDorf nobody has to sleep rough. This remarkable fact makes Graz differ from other cities. Andy Wolf is eager to promote this unique project worldwide and to spread the word”, tells Plattner.
The guiding principle “home for homeless” does not claim to cure drug abuse but offers addicts a community and care. In the VinziDorf people find a place to be who have not been tolerated in other social institutions. This exceptional model offers shelter without restrictions. “Our magazine does not show Andy Wolf glasses but extraordinary pictures from this social fringe group and a documentation of this pioneer project.”
Handmade in Austria
Within the production process every item has to pass a series of manufacturing steps and quality cheques, which turns every Andy Wolf product into a unique piece of handcraft: “Finishing a pair of glasses takes several weeks as every single piece is handmade. The spectacle frames not only stand for style and elegance but also make you completely forget that you are wearing glasses”. The spectacle frames are made of acetat plates and prevent tension with the glass, they are hard-wearing and long-lasting.
media contact:
Katharina Plattner
phone: +43664/8369509
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