Al Perkinson | Building Bajio Sunglasses with Purpose & Conservation | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 738

Al Perkinson is the founder and CEO of Bajio Sunglasses, a purpose-driven eyewear company based in New Smyrna Beach, Florida that manufactures lenses and assembles sunglasses in the United States. A former sculpture major turned banker who spent years in the optical industry helping build another major fishing sunglass brand, Al launched Bajio during COVID with his wife Marguerite with a conservation mission focused on protecting coastal flats ecosystems worldwide. In this conversation, Al reveals why he walked away from a successful company to start over, the unconventional decision to manufacture in America when everyone else sources overseas, and the specific moment that crystallized his vision for what a fishing sunglass company could be. This episode goes far beyond product design—it's about building something with purpose when the easier path was right in front of him.

From Sculpture Major to Banking to Building Fishing Brands

Al Perkinson's path to founding Bajio Sunglasses is anything but conventional. He started as a sculpture major before pivoting into banking, where he spent years before a chance encounter led him into the optical industry. That transition wasn't random—it set him up to eventually help build one of the most recognized names in fishing eyewear. But the story of how he got there, the relationships he built, and the lessons he learned about manufacturing and distribution created the foundation for what would become Bajio. Al explains how each seemingly disconnected chapter prepared him for starting his own company, even when he didn't realize it at the time. The full story of Al's unconventional career path starts at 3:45.

The Decision to Walk Away and Start Over

After years of successfully building another fishing sunglass brand, Al faced a defining moment: stay with something proven and profitable, or walk away to build something from scratch that aligned with his values. The timing seemed terrible—launching a new company during COVID when supply chains were collapsing and the economy was uncertain. But Al and his wife Marguerite saw an opportunity to do things differently, to build a company with conservation and American manufacturing at its core. The decision wasn't purely emotional; Al had identified specific gaps in how fishing eyewear companies operated and believed there was a better way. What made him finally take the leap, and how did he convince his wife to join him in the risk? Al reveals the moment he knew it was time to start Bajio at 12:30.

Manufacturing in America When Everyone Else Goes Overseas

One of Bajio's most distinctive decisions is manufacturing their lenses and assembling their sunglasses in the United States. In an industry where nearly every competitor sources from overseas to maximize margins, this choice seems counterintuitive. Al breaks down the real economics of domestic manufacturing—the cost differences, quality control advantages, and the challenge of finding partners who could meet their standards. He explains why this decision wasn't just about patriotism or marketing, but about having direct control over quality and innovation. There's a specific technical reason why manufacturing in the US allows Bajio to iterate and improve faster than competitors, and it's not what you'd expect. The full explanation of Bajio's manufacturing philosophy and the numbers behind it starts at 28:15.

Building a Conservation Mission Into Company DNA

Bajio isn't just an eyewear company with a conservation tagline—the mission to protect coastal flats ecosystems is embedded in how the company operates. Al discusses how they've structured partnerships with conservation organizations, the specific projects they fund, and why focusing on flats and shallow water habitats became their niche. The conversation reveals how a company's values actually translate into action beyond marketing, including decisions about materials, partnerships, and where profits go. Al shares stories of specific conservation wins that Bajio has been part of, and explains how they measure impact beyond just dollars donated. There's tension between running a profitable business and funding conservation work, and Al doesn't shy away from discussing how they navigate it. How Bajio structures their conservation partnerships and what they've accomplished starts at 45:20.

Final Thoughts from Tom

I've known Al for years and watched Bajio grow from an idea into one of the most respected brands in fishing eyewear. What strikes me about this conversation is how Al thinks about business—it's not just about making the best product or maximizing profit, though he's doing both. It's about building something that aligns with your values even when that makes everything harder.

The decision to manufacture in America when everyone else sources overseas wasn't naive or purely patriotic. Al breaks down the real numbers and explains why it actually makes Bajio more competitive in ways that matter for innovation and quality. And the conservation mission isn't window dressing—he talks specifically about projects they've funded and how they measure impact beyond marketing.

What I respect most is that Al doesn't pretend building this way is easy. He talks openly about the challenges, the moments of doubt, and what it took to convince his wife to jump into this with him during COVID. If you're thinking about starting something, building something, or just want to understand what purpose-driven business actually looks like in practice, listen to the whole thing. This one's worth your time.