Earbuds are a dime a dozen these days, but LSTN headphones take the concept to a whole new level…and with a heart.
Chances are you have a pair of headphones or earbuds within arm’s reach right now. Thanks to the iPod, and then our musical mobile phones, we can turn practically any moment into a musical one. Headphones and earbuds make talking on the phone (that other thing it’s useful for) a lot easier too. But if you’ve just been using the standard issue Apple earbuds or knock-offs, you’ll want to meet LSTN.
Created solely as a social enterprise with a most noble purpose, Bridget Hilton founded LSTN because she wanted to support the Starkey Hearing Foundation. After seeing a viral video of a woman hearing for the first time, Bridget was moved to start LSTN. “It was so incredible, I thought, ‘why isn’t someone doing this on a social level?’” LSTN was born.
“We saw a huge gap in the market, not only to help people but to create a cool product,” says Hilton. Her vision for earbuds and headphones all made from reclaimed furniture wood has made the ubiquitous accessory unique and meaningful. “No two pairs are the same—that’s the beauty of using the reclaimed wood,” says Hilton.
But the real cool factor comes from Hilton’s passion for sharing the gift of sound. Hilton came from a career in the music industry, but she left it to be able to share her passion in a different way, she explains: “Starkey is the coolest foundation I’ve ever seen in my life, they give people the gift of sound. I can’t imagine my life without music, and I thought this would be a way I could share it with people who already hear [through the headphones] and with those who need it most, which is what Starkey delivers,” she said.
Using the Warby Parker or TOMS shoes model, each pair of LSTN headphones or earbuds delivers proceeds to Starkey. In just a year since LSTN started doing business (April 8 was the company’s first birthday), 15,000+ people in the United States, Peru, Uganda and Kenya have had their hearing restored through LSTN’s relationship with Starkey.
I tried out a pair of the Fillmore headphones sent to me by the company. The mid-line product is really lightweight and comfortable. I have a lot of hair but the headband doesn’t pull or tangle. The cushions for the ear make long listening really enjoyable. I imagine these headphones would be good for watching a movie on a plane ride and certainly comfortable for professional musicians (of which many already support LSTN, says Hilton).
The headphones also work like iPhone earbuds with a microphone built in so you can use them for long phone conversations, too. And the cool factor Hilton hypes is well deserved. “Wood is used in so many musical instruments from pianos to guitars,” she asked, “Why wasn’t it being used in headphones?” And wood waste is a huge problem around the world. In California alone (LSTN is based in Los Angeles), the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery estimates that approximately 3.8 million tons of wood waste (not including yard waste) are generated throughout the state and enter the municipal waste stream in California every year.
LSTN headphones and earbuds are now available in Whole Foods Markets that currently sell vinyl records and Nordstrom’s as well as online. More retail outlets are opening up and Hilton envisions expanding LSTN into other music-related products that will help support the company’s mission to restore hearing. “Music to me is the most important thing in the world. It connects people. It’s so powerful,” says Hilton. “The one thing that’s the same everywhere we go is everyone loves music. Everyone relates to it and connects to it. Everyone can understand music. I want everyone to hear music.”
Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger
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All images courtesy of LSTN