DropShades has taken the Kickstarter realm by storm. The project – audio-reactive fashion glasses that play a light show in sync with your surroundings – reached its $15,000 fundraising goal within a week of launch and quickly began unlocking new improvements to the product to better serve those pledging and to further the development of their wearable technology.
“That’s part of the beauty of the EDM scene, in particular,” said co-founder Harrison Hendron. “When you’re part of that community, there’s a sense of collaboration. We’re all looking to make the experience better for each other. That’s what drove us to launch this Kickstarter project, and it’s the insight of our peers that has steered us since.”
The initial stretch goals set by the trio behind DropShades were complementary accessories and aesthetic upgrades to the product. At $40,000, for instance, the team will begin production on a pair of shades with white frames. At $50,000, they’ll offer glow in the dark frames. The newest stretch goal, however, makes those perks seem a lot smaller.
“We wanted to make the glasses more valuable to the user,” explained Chief Engineer Nick Cate. “They’re fun, they take your experience at the party to the next level, but we wanted to find a way to make them last longer, giving backers more bang for their buck. It’s been the most consistent request we’ve received.”
The solution they’ve reached is the incorporation of a lithium ion battery into the frames that can be recharged using a universal USB cord, greatly extending the life of the glasses. If the project hits its stretch goal of $80,000, the team will be able to make this convenient upgrade a reality for all those who have pledged thus far and all customers moving forward.
“It won’t change the final price of the glasses in the end,” elaborated Skylar Perkins, DropShades Chief of Operations. “It’s about making it possible to provide that enhanced experience to the community from the get-go.”
With recent coverage from The Huffington Post, Mashable, and Technorati, the project’s new stretch goal is less of a stretch than one might think, but the guys are working hard to demonstrate why these shades are worth the support. With 17 days left and just over $45,000 to go, the team is taking their prototypes on the road to let fellow partiers take them for a test drive, with events planned in Vegas around the Electric Daisy Concert at the end of June, and follow-up stops in Los Angeles.
For more information on the DropShades project, or to bring the DropShades team to a venue near you, you can reach them via email at press(at)getdropshades(dot)com. To donate to the Kickstarter campaign, click here.
About DropShades
DropShades was launched in 2013 by founders Harrison Herndon, Nick Cate, and Skylar Perkins to provide stylish and innovative party accessories for those looking to add some electric panache to their celebratory experiences to the next level. To learn more about what they have to offer, visit http://www.getdropshades.com.