Substance
The original line. Every frame 3D-printed in a single pass from castor bean bioplastic. Flexible, hypoallergenic, remarkably light. The frame that proves plant-based eyewear can be as refined as anything else in the case.
Authorized Retailer, 100% Authentic
Rolf Substance
Rolf Substance is the 3D-printed, plant-based collection from the Austrian eyewear house Rolf. The frames are printed from castor beans. The castor plant grows quickly and thrives in dry areas; it needs hardly any water and does not compete with food crops. The frames are flexible and hypoallergenic, and Rolf's FlexLock hinge is printed as part of the frame, so there are no screws and no metal.
Visionary Optics is an Authorized Retailer of Rolf Substance in New York. Styles in stock can be tried on at our New York stores in the Upper East Side, Chelsea and Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, and we ship nationwide.
Substance is a line of Rolf eyewear, whose main collection is made from wood and stone.
7,000+
Frames Across 3 Locations
3
NYC Locations
35+
Years in Business
PRINTED IN AUSTRIA · BORN FROM A BEAN
Eyewear Grown, Not Manufactured
Substance Mount
Bolder shapes for optical and sun. Mount frames push the silhouette further with heavier acetate-style profiles and the same 100 percent plant-based construction. Architectural without being heavy.
Substance Aura
The newest Substance line. A surface treatment that adds depth and contrast to the printed frame, with subtle color accents on the temples. Aura takes the bioplastic in a more design-forward direction.
Printed One at a Time
Every Substance frame begins as castor bean powder. The beans are ground, mixed with water, and printed layer by layer into a finished frame. Three parts and two rubber rings. No screws. No metal. The hinge is printed into the frame itself, in the same pass as everything else.
Castor beans are a fast-growing plant that requires no irrigation and does not compete with food crops. Rolf describes the additive printing process as production that leaves hardly any waste.
The result is eyewear that is light, kind to sensitive skin, and made from a material that started as a seed in a field.
GREEN PRODUCT AWARD · DEZEEN AWARDS SHORTLIST · CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE EYEWEAR · MADE IN AUSTRIA
Rolf Dove M Optical
Sale price$595.00
4 colors available
Rolf Puma M Optical
Sale price$595.00
2 colors available
Rolf Colt M Optical
Sale price$595.00
2 colors available
Rolf Pisa S Optical
Sale price$625.00
3 colors available
Rolf Ryck S Optical
Sale price$625.00
3 colors available
Rolf Nene S Optical
Sale price$625.00
2 colors available
Rolf Ural L Optical
Sale price$625.00
1 color available
Rolf Bear M Optical
Sale price$625.00
2 colors available
Rolf Kudu M Optical
Sale price$625.00
1 color available
Rolf Sill M+ Optical
Sale price$625.00
1 color available
Rolf Seja L Optical
Sale price$625.00
1 color available
Rolf Main M Optical
Sale price$625.00
2 colors available
Rolf Pisa M Optical
Sale price$625.00
3 colors available
Rolf Lune S Optical
Sale price$625.00
1 color available
Rolf Eden M Optical
Sale price$625.00
1 color available
Rolf Avon M Optical
Sale price$625.00
1 color available
Rolf Avon S Optical
Sale price$625.00
4 colors available
Rolf Ache M Optical
Sale price$625.00
2 colors available
Rolf Kama S Optical
Sale price$625.00
4 colors available
Rolf Prut L+ Optical
Sale price$625.00
3 colors available
Rolf Back M+ Optical
Sale price$625.00
2 colors available
Rolf Vaal M Optical
Sale price$625.00
4 colors available
Rolf Tarn M Optical
Sale price$625.00
2 colors available
Rolf Isar L Optical
Sale price$625.00
4 colors available
Rolf Cony M Optical
Sale price$595.00
1 color available
Rolf Unac M Optical
Sale price$625.00
6 colors available
Rolf Lamb L Optical
Sale price$625.00
3 colors available
Rolf Tana M Optical
Sale priceFrom $625.00
3 colors available
Rolf Ruhr M Optical
Sale price$625.00
3 colors available
Rolf Cher L Optical
Sale price$625.00
2 colors available
Rolf Seal M Optical
Sale price$595.00
2 colors available
Rolf Nile L Optical
Sale price$625.00
2 colors available
Rolf Napo S Optical
Sale price$625.00
5 colors available
Rolf Kama M Optical
Sale priceFrom $625.00
3 colors available
Rolf Kama L Optical
Sale price$625.00
1 color available
Rolf Kemi S Optical
Sale price$625.00
3 colors available
Rolf Prut L Optical
Sale priceFrom $625.00
5 colors available
Rolf Cher M Optical
Sale price$625.00
7 colors available
Rolf Back M Optical
Sale priceFrom $625.00
4 colors available
Rolf Dava M Optical
Sale price$625.00
1 color available
Rolf Napo M Optical
Sale price$625.00
4 colors available
Rolf Dura M Optical
Sale price$625.00
4 colors available
Rolf Ulua M Optical
Sale price$625.00
1 color available
Rolf Ohle S Optical
Sale price$625.00
2 colors available
Rolf Ruki L Optical
Sale price$625.00
1 color available
Why Rolf Substance at Visionary Optics?
Rolf Substance is the plant-based 3D-printed collection from Rolf, the Austrian eyewear house founded in 2009 in the Tyrolean Alps. Substance frames are made from a powder derived from castor beans — a fast-growing tropical plant in the Euphorbiaceae family that requires no genetic engineering and doesn't compete with food crops.
Visionary Optics carries the Rolf Substance collection across our three NYC locations. Each frame is 3D-printed with Rolf's signature Flexlock screwless hinge printed in, so the whole frame is three parts and two rubber rings. The result is sustainable eyewear without sacrificing engineering or aesthetics.
Prefer to try before you buy? Visit any of our three NYC locations for an in-person fitting. Many frames are available for same-day pickup with ZEISS single vision lenses.
The Visionary Optics Difference
Authorized Rolf Substance Retailer
Award-winning Austrian eyewear, 3D-printed from plant-based materials — every frame fully authentic and sourced direct from the maker.
Made from Castor Beans
A powder derived from a fast-growing tropical plant that requires no genetic engineering and doesn't compete with food crops — true material innovation.
Red Dot Award-Winning Design
The Substance collection earned the Red Dot Design Award for its tactile textured finishes inspired by Arctic ice flows and rocky peaks — sustainability you can see.
Expert Rolf Substance Fitting
Our opticians know the full Substance collection and pair each frame with ZEISS precision lenses, same-day for single vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rolf Substance?
Substance is the 3D-printed, plant-based collection from the Austrian eyewear house Rolf. Where the main Rolf collection is built from natural materials such as wood, stone, and horn, Substance frames are printed from a powder derived from the castor plant. The frames are entirely metal-free, contain no screws, and are among the lightest frames we carry.
What are Rolf Substance frames made from?
The castor plant is ground into a powder, combined with a natural binding agent, and 3D-printed into a finished frame. Rolf chose the plant for how quickly it renews. Where a spruce or beech grows a few centimeters a year, the castor plant can grow up to six meters in four months and returns every year.
How much do Rolf Substance frames cost?
Rolf Substance pricing is unusually consistent. Most frames are approximately $625, with the full selection running from about $595 to $825 depending on the model and finish.
How durable are 3D-printed, plant-based frames?
More durable than most people expect. The German science program Galileo tested the Substance collection against titanium and conventional plastic frames, hitting them with a football, sitting on them, knotting the temples, dropping them from a height of 114 meters, and running them over with a car. The Substance frames outperformed both comparison materials. The plant-based material flexes rather than snapping, which is why it holds up to handling that would break a rigid frame.
Are Rolf Substance frames a good choice if metal frames irritate my skin?
Substance frames contain no metal components at all. Rolf's patented Flexlock hinge is 3D-printed as part of the frame itself rather than screwed or soldered on, so there is no nickel anywhere in contact with the skin. It also means there is nothing to loosen or service over time. Customers who find metal frames uncomfortable often prefer them.
Can I get Rolf Substance frames with prescription lenses?
Yes. Every Rolf Substance optical frame at Visionary Optics can be fit with ZEISS prescription lenses, and most single vision prescriptions are ready the same day. We also fit progressive and specialty lens prescriptions, and we can fit prescription lenses into Rolf Substance sunglasses.
Where can I buy Rolf Substance in NYC or online?
Visionary Optics is an Authorized Retailer of Rolf with three New York City locations: Upper East Side at 1409 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10075, Chelsea at 173 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10011, and Carroll Gardens at 315 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231. We stock over 70 Rolf Substance styles across all three boutiques, every frame is 100% authentic, and our opticians can guide you through model and fit differences. We also ship nationwide, with or without prescription lenses, so you can order from anywhere in the United States.
Can't Decide? Visit Us.
Nothing beats trying frames in person. Visit any of our three NYC locations and let our experts help you find your perfect pair.