HARPSWELL, Maine — A young entrepreneur from Harpswell wants to bring Maine’s coast to the world through your wardrobe.
John Turner, 25, always has wanted to create a product with a strong connection to Maine’s coast. When he was walking on Willard Beach in South Portland back in March, he found his inspiration — a 15-year-old lobster trap washed up on shore.
“I thought it was deserving of a new life,” said Turner.
After some brainstorming, Turner landed on sunglasses. Turner, who has a passion for fashion but never had designed sunglasses before, took his idea to the Fab Lab in Biddeford. There, he used a 3D printer to design frames.
“We did probably 15 to 20 iterations of the frame,” he said.
Turner brought his design and the wood from the lobster trap to East Coast Woodworking in Bath. There, woodworkers helped create custom wooden templates for the sunglasses.
Turner thinks he finally has nailed the design — part wooden lobster traps, part Italian acetate. Turner and his business partner, Daniel Dougherty of Camden, are ready to launch two styles Wednesday.
“I see it as more than just a premium eyewear company,” said Dougherty. “I see it becoming a premium company all around.”
In the world of retail, “premium” can mean expensive, and neither style of “Traps Eyewear” will be cheap. Some styles of the “Ulysses” and “Jack” frames will cost up to $300.
“I see a brand that can stand behind its name,” said Dougherty.
Turner and Dougherty say they plan to compete with the biggest and best men’s accessories brands in the world. Right now they’re making sunglasses, but they plan on more styles and more products in the future.
“I think in this day and age if you can create a company, you might as well do it,” said Dougherty.
The entrepreneurs know the risks involved in launching any new business, but they think they’ve got a great idea that will connect with people’s love of the Maine coast, and the state’s largest industry.
“These lobster traps represent so much,” said Turner. “They represent not only Maine, but it’s a story of hard work, and tenacity and passion, what these lobstermen have for fishing.”