Patrick Beeson

It's hard to get around if you can't see clearly. Most folks who, like me, wear glasses know this all to well.

Portland, OR-based 141 Eyewear is trying to put more glasses on kids who need them using a non-profit attitude mashed with a for-profit company model made popular by shoe retailer TOMS.

And like Toms, 141 Eyewear's glasses are stylish and well made.

141 Eyewear's Everett frames are their boldest option, but are restrained enough for the cubical farm.

Credit: Patrick Beeson

I'm no fashion hound, but I am picky when it comes to style. Glasses are no exception.

Though I normally wear contact lens due to my bike commute to work, I do like to swap them out for glasses to prevent strain on my eyes from staring at screen all day.

My last pair of glasses were purchased several prescriptions ago when Lindsay and I were living in Roanoke, VA. The lens were pretty scratched -- I hate, hate scratches on my glasses or sunglasses -- and needed replacement.

Fortunately, Uncrate came to my rescue.

This blog is a regular part of my RSS reading. It's here where I spotted a post for 141 Eyewear, which happened to be from my favorite city Portland. Win and win.

All of their frames are named after Portland streets and come in an array of colors. They're also handmade in Japan.

Unfortunately, 141 Eyewear doesn't sell frames online yet. But I learned that I could still purchase a pair after sending an e-mail to co-owner Shu-Chu Wu.

And bonus: I could also purchase the lens and receive free shipping and a hefty discount for not paying (directly) with insurance.

I was concerned about buying glasses online however. Though I'd done this before with my now-infamous Versace glasses, it's still a big purchase to make on blind faith.

This is were Wu really impressed me. She answered e-mail after e-mail from my indecisive self to recommend frames that would match my face and sense of style.

I wanted frames that wouldn't be out of place at the office, but would still set me apart from the herd. That led to the Everett in Olive, one of 141 Eyewear's boldest models.

The glasses arrived in a 141 Eyewear case and accompanying cleaning cloth.

And damn, do they look good.

Wu made a great recommendation with the Everett frames. And not only do I have a fantastically hip pair of glasses, I've also helped provide a pair for someone with lesser means than I.

For more background on 141 Eyewear, check out a story from The Oregonian published back in February.