RiseAD

What RiseAD does

RiseAD (Rise Art&Design) is a Brooklyn-based, art-inspired fashion brand operating under parent company Rise Sport and supported by Concrete2Green, founded around 2017-2018. The company designs and sells limited-edition apparel (t-shirts, $30-$60), headwear (dad hats and canvas bucket hats, $40-$65), and sunglasses ($100-$600) that translate street art, film, sport, and cultural narratives into wearable products. Core technical components include custom-designed premium first-generation recycled polycarbonate frames, CR-39 lenses with UV400 protection, and a modular interchangeable frame system (Game Changer Squared) built on a surgical steel chassis with a precision clasp; products are made-to-order and assembled in the United States.

The business model is direct-to-consumer e-commerce on Shopify, with US and Canada shipping, supplemented by an exclusive physical retail placement at the Wynwood Walls Shop in Miami. Pricing is unit-based with free domestic shipping above $100, and revenue is generated through one-time purchases rather than subscriptions. The brand differentiates via a portfolio of named artist collaborations (Faheem Majeed/UNITE, Add Fuel, Kaer Designs, Seavy Sanders, Corey.O) and cultural partnerships (Wynwood Walls, Can We Kick It? documentary), supported by a 52-article editorial blog called "Behind The Shades."

RiseAD is privately held, bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding, and serves a niche of fashion-forward art enthusiasts, street-art and Wynwood culture fans, and soccer/culture community supporters. Customer reach is concentrated in two countries and a single physical retail location, with no AI or ML capabilities described in the product or technology stack.

Name

RiseAD

Legal name

Rise Sport

Website

https://riseartdesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RiseAD is a Brooklyn-based fashion brand that designs and sells limited-edition art-inspired sunglasses, apparel, and hats through Shopify DTC e-commerce and an exclusive Wynwood Walls Shop retail partnership, targeting fashion-forward art, street culture, and soccer community consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art-Inspired Fashion Eyewear

NAICS

Optical Goods Retailers (45613)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Eyewear Retail & DTC Brands (Frames & Sunglasses) (CRAAAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sunglasses (Non-Prescription) (CRAAAKAB), Luxury & Designer Eyewear (CRAAAKAD)

Keywords

• Art-inspired sunglasses
• Premium fashion eyewear
• Artist collaboration apparel
• Limited edition streetwear
• Custom designed eyewear

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: One-time purchase model through e-commerce storefront. Products include limited apparel, accessories, eyewear, and cultural drops. Each pair of eyewear is custom and made-to-order.
2. Shipping Services: Flat rate shipping model with free shipping on domestic orders over $100. Domestic: $4.99, Canada: $14.95

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RiseAD designs and sells art-inspired sunglasses, apparel, and accessories through a direct-to-consumer model. The company creates limited edition drops in collaboration with artists, cultural institutions, and sports leagues, producing made-to-order eyewear with first-generation recycled polycarbonate frames, CR-39 lenses, and UV400 protection. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time product sales via Shopify e-commerce and select physical retail partnerships.

Product overview

RiseAD is a Brooklyn-based fashion brand creating limited apparel, accessories, and eyewear inspired by art, sport, film, and street culture. The product portfolio centers on three core categories: (1) Apparel including t-shirts and tops with graffiti and cultural designs; (2) Headwear including dad hats and canvas bucket hats; and (3) Sunglasses spanning multiple collections—RAD Classic frames in artistic colorways, RAD Aviators with custom art designs, the Game Changer Squared interchangeable aviator line, and a curated Vintage Eyewear collection featuring designer pieces from the 70s-90s. RiseAD operates under parent company Rise Sport and powers its e-commerce through Shopify, selling directly to consumers with free shipping on orders over $100. The brand distinguishes itself through artist collaborations with Faheem Majeed (UNITE), Add Fuel/Wynwood Walls, and Brooklyn artists, as well as cultural partnerships including the Can We Kick It? documentary collection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RAD: RAD Aviator collection representing art converging with eyewear, featuring color-infused sunglasses frames through art.
• UNITE
• CWKI

Products and services

• RiseAD Apparel Collection Limited edition t-shirts and tops featuring art-inspired designs, graffiti patterns, and cultural collaborations, including premium cotton and polyester blend garments in various colorways. Targeted at fashion-forward individual consumers.
• RiseAD Hats and Caps Collection Headwear accessories including CWKI Logo Dad Hats, Wide Canvas Bucket Hats in Natural and Denim (made in France from 100% cotton), and Frayed Canvas Bucket Hats. Some pieces part of the AMNY collaboration.
• RiseAD Classic Sunglasses Collection RAD Classic frame sunglasses with lightweight polycarbonate frames in various artistic colorways inspired by art collections. Features include CR-39 lenses, UV400 protection, hard case, suede pouch, and microfiber cleaning cloth.
• RiseAD Aviator Sunglasses Collection RAD Aviator and classic aviator-style sunglasses including All-Star Aviator, Game Changer Squared (interchangeable frames), and Polarized Aviator styles. Features surgical steel frame chassis and CR-39 quality lenses with UV400 protection.
• RiseAD Art and Design Collection Artist collaboration eyewear featuring designs from Faheem Majeed (UNITE collection), Seavy Sanders (Denim Classics), Kaer Designs (Bouquet), Corey.O (Graffiti), and other Brooklyn-based artists, with art-inspired designs and sustainable materials.
• RiseAD Vintage Sunglasses Collection Curated collection of vintage sunglasses from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, primarily new old stock preserved in original condition, including designer brands such as Helena Rubinstein, Eyetel, Charles Jourdan, Beau Monde, Cazal, Miyagi Hampton, Vera Wang, Giorgio Armani, Balenciaga, and Nina Ricci.
• Can We Kick It? (CWKI) Collection Limited apparel, accessories, and cultural drops inspired by the Can We Kick It? documentary exploring soccer culture in Black communities, including CWKI Logo Tees, oversized t-shirts, and CWKI Logo Dad Hats.
• Wynwood Walls x Add Fuel Collaboration Sunglasses Limited edition sunglasses featuring artwork by Portuguese street artist Diogo Machado (Add Fuel), inspired by traditional Portuguese azulejo tile designs. Available in RAD Aviator (AZ406) and RAD Classic (GOOD DAYS) frames with custom art cleaning cloth, sold exclusively at the Wynwood Walls Shop.
• RiseAD Game Changer Squared Sunglasses Fashion-forward interchangeable aviator sunglasses with squared metal frames, surgical steel chassis with precision clasp supporting interchangeable flex polymer frame fronts. Available in Black Transparent, Red Transparent, Apple Green Transparent, and Pearl White variants.
• UNITE x Faheem Majeed Sunglasses Collection Sunglasses collection in collaboration with Chicago-based artist, curator, educator, and community facilitator Faheem Majeed, featuring vibrant colorways including Pink Lemonade, Lime, Orange, Grape, Blue Raspberry, and Tropical inspired by the UNITE Art Collection.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80,000 square feet of Wynwood Walls art gallery accessible through partnership
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Can We Kick It? (CWKI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026CWKI x RiseAD collaboration creates limited apparel, accessories, and cultural drops inspired by the Can We Kick It? documentary about soccer culture in Black communities. Collection connects soccer, film, community, and style.
• Wynwood WallscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023RiseAD collaboration with Wynwood Walls features sunglasses inspired by artist Add Fuel's Portuguese tile-inspired artwork. Collection includes RAD Aviator and RAD Classic frame styles available exclusively at The Wynwood Walls Shop in Miami's Wynwood District.
• Faheem MajeedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiseAD x Faheem Majeed 'UNITE' sunglasses collection inspired by Chicago-based artist, curator, educator and community facilitator. Collection features vibrant colors including Pink Lemonade, Lime, Orange, Grape, and Blue Raspberry inspired by the UNITE Art Collection.
• Add Fuel (Diogo Machado)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese visual artist Add Fuel collaborated with RiseAD for Wynwood Walls collection. Artist blends traditional Portuguese azulejo tile design with contemporary street art, creating designs like 'GOOD DAYS' and 'AZ406' for RiseAD sunglasses.
• Kaer Designs (Marianne Mollman)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrooklyn-based designer Marianne Mollman's Kaer brand collaborated on the Bouquet floral design sunglasses. Kaer features dresses, jackets, textiles, and accessories incorporating the designer's photography of flowers and nature.
• Seavy SandersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC denim designer Seavy Sanders collaborated on the Indigo Blue Denim Classic sunglasses. With 15+ years experience designing for The Gap, Ralph Lauren, Marithe&Francois Girbaud, Seavy created frames inspired by ripped indigo washed denim.
• Concrete2GreencoreTechnology or IntegrationConcrete2Green powers RiseAD as the parent operational infrastructure. RiseAD is owned by Rise Sport and powered by Concrete2Green.
• Rise SportcoreOthersRiseAD is owned by Rise Sport, which originally launched with official licensed sports collections with NBA, NHL, and MLS. Rise Sport handles manufacturing, shipping, and customer service operations for RiseAD.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Raen Optics: California-based independent eyewear brand with classic, art-informed frames sold DTC and through specialty retailers. Comparable on independent-brand positioning, handcrafted premium frames, and DTC-plus-boutique retail.
• Ace & Tate: Amsterdam-based direct-to-consumer eyewear brand with premium positioning and own-store retail. Comparable DTC-plus-bricks-and-mortar model in the independent designer eyewear segment.
• RetroSuperFuture: Italy-based independent eyewear label selling art-driven, designer sunglasses through DTC and curated boutiques — directly comparable on art-fashion positioning and DTC-plus-boutique distribution.
• Warby Parker: Category-defining DTC eyewear company selling prescription and non-prescription glasses and sunglasses direct to consumer. Comparable on DTC-first model and price-tier overlap, though much broader assortment.
• Le Specs: Australia-origin fashion sunglasses brand with bold, color-driven frames sold through fashion retailers and DTC. Comparable on fashion-sunglasses positioning, color and trend-led design, and broad retail channel mix.
• Blenders Eyewear: San Diego-based DTC sunglasses brand selling lifestyle-driven shades online with frequent drops and limited editions. Comparable on DTC, sport/lifestyle positioning, and the US e-commerce go-to-market.
• Gentle Monster: Korean-founded global eyewear and fashion brand known for art-fashion, architectural retail, and limited collaborations. Closest comparable to RiseAD's positioning at the intersection of art, culture, and sunglasses.
• Quay Australia: Affordable fashion sunglasses brand sold DTC and through retailers with celebrity and influencer collaborations. Comparable on fashion-sunglasses positioning and collaboration-driven drops at accessible price points.
• Karen Walker Eyewear: Designer eyewear brand known for art-influenced, distinctive frames distributed through premium opticians and DTC. Comparable on fashion-forward, design-led independent positioning with artist aesthetic.

Broad incumbents

• Persol: Established Italian luxury eyewear brand (Luxottica portfolio) selling premium sunglasses and optical frames. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the designer eyewear category, though far larger and more distribution-heavy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/radeyewear
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/radeyewear

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RiseAD