“You’re Too Old For That” is a regular series that explores inspiring activities being pursued by those over 50 years old who feel you’re never too old to do what lights you up.
“Where are my glasses?”
How many times a day do you utter this phrase? Sometimes, they’re sitting right on your head. Maybe the cat batted them under the couch. But every once in a while they’re gone for good. Now you’re doomed to go through the whole process of choosing frames again.
For Tracy Vontélle Green and her best friend of 30+ years, Nancey Flowers-Harris, finding the perfect eyeglass frames became more than a weekend shopping mission. It developed into a full-fledged business.
“When Tracy lost her glasses, she complained about the price and the fit. Tracy and I couldn’t find glasses that fit our faces properly and reflected who we are culturally. We were both tired of choosing between fit and fashion,” Flowers-Harris recalled.
That’s how Vontélle was born, becoming the first Black women-owned and operated eyewear company to secure a licensing agreement with Nickelodeon and build a partnership with National Vision Inc. As a result, limited edition Vontélle eyewear is sold in 900 America’s Best locations across the US. Vontélle eyewear is also found at Sam’s Club and vision care centers nationwide, with many retailers across the founders’ hometown of Brooklyn, NY.
“Our designs are inspired by heritage, travel, art, and identity. We wanted eyewear that celebrates individuality and culture, frames that make a statement and start conversations,” Flowers-Harris said.
Breaking through tradition
Roughly 83% to 89% of Americans over the age of 45 need reading glasses, according to recent research. The ability to see close-up (farsightedness) deteriorates as we get older. If you’ve ever used your phone flashlight to see a menu in a dark restaurant or moved a paper the perfect distance from your face to read something, you know what we mean. For many people, it’s just another unfortunate sign of aging.
But some choose to view prescription glasses as a fashion statement and a way to reinvent themselves with a new look in mid-life. With the eyewear industry dominated by a handful of legacy brands, though, finding the perfect frames is not as easy as it sounds, especially for people with diverse features.
“All the glasses looked the same and didn’t have any culture,” Flowers-Harris observed, recalling that pivotal shopping trip for new frames, as well as her observations at industry events as the duo prepared to launch their eyewear brand.
“Eyewear should be an expression, not an afterthought,” Vontélle Green agreed. “We design for people who’ve been told to ‘settle’ for frames that fit physically but not culturally or aesthetically.”
Vontélle makes frames for anyone who wears glasses, at any age, including fun frames for children through a licensing agreement with Nickelodeon. The company focuses on frames that fit diverse facial features, including those who need wider bridges or larger lenses because, as Vontélle Green said in an article on the company website, “We’re not all a monolith; we don’t all look the same.”
Vontélle’s success earned the company founders spots on the Forbes 50 over 50 list in 2024. After leaving successful careers in finance and sales/marketing to launch their eyewear brand, Vontélle Green and Flowers-Harris are poised for growth with no intention of slowing down.
“We’re pouring our passion into building Vontélle not just as a business, but as a legacy brand that can grow, adapt, and hopefully continue making an impact far beyond our own careers,” Flowers-Harris said.
Vontélle Green agreed. “Vontélle is still growing, still evolving, and I’m energized by what’s ahead.”
Entrepreneurship after 50
Vontélle Green previously worked in finance, while Flowers-Harris had a corporate career in sales and marketing.
“This isn’t my first rodeo starting a business,” Flowers-Harris said, adding that this time was different. The two women, who met years ago at Morgan State University in Baltimore, broke down barriers to create an inclusive, culturally relevant brand, bringing decades of experience in finance and corporate management to the table.
“My time in corporate America truly shaped the entrepreneur I am today,” Flowers-Harris said. “My roles taught me people skills and required me to be strategic, persuasive, data-driven, and resilient.”
Vontélle Green called her finance background her “secret weapon” as a startup business owner. “All those years working with numbers taught me how to forecast, manage cash flow, price products, and analyze risk, [which are] skills I lean on every single day at Vontélle,” she said.
Age brings experience and practical knowledge in a variety of disciplines. It also brings persistence, confidence, and vision.
“There’s a certain freedom that comes from knowing yourself better and not being afraid to take calculated risks,” Flowers-Harris said. “Women entrepreneurs of a ‘certain age’ bring patience, perspective, and rationality. We’re better listeners, strong negotiators, and deeply intuitive leaders. We’re less reactive and more strategic. We also tend to build businesses that are value-driven, focused on impact, community, and sustainability, not just growth at all costs. Lasting success is built on relationships, authenticity, and a willingness to evolve.”
Vontélle Green echoed her business partner’s sentiments, noting that her experience in finance trained her to keep moving forward even when the destination might be unclear or you may not have all the information available. “In entrepreneurship, there’s rarely a perfect roadmap, and being comfortable with uncertainty has made all the difference for me,” she said.
“Women entrepreneurs of a ‘certain age’ bring patience, perspective, and rationality. We’re better listeners, strong negotiators, and deeply intuitive leaders. We’re less reactive and more strategic. We also tend to build businesses that are value-driven, focused on impact, community, and sustainability, not just growth at all costs.” — Nancey Flowers-Harris
Growth challenges and victories
In spite of decades of experience and complementary skills that helped the friends tackle practical challenges like forecasting, marketing, distribution and cash flow, breaking into a new industry controlled by legacy brands brought unique challenges.
“Breaking into an industry that is highly consolidated and not particularly diverse has been not just challenging, but daunting at times,” Flowers-Harris admitted.
She listed funding gaps, manufacturing delays, and skepticism over whether a Black-owned, female-led brand could compete at scale as just a few of the obstacles they faced.
“We faced skepticism around size-inclusivity, cultural design, and whether there was real demand,” Vontélle Green added.
The founders quickly learned they needed to embed themselves in the eyewear industry and be visible in the right rooms early on. This meant attending trade shows like Vision Expo East and West and joining The Vision Council.
“Those spaces allowed us to build credibility, stay informed, and develop relationships with buyers, partners, and manufacturers over time,” Flowers-Harris explained. “Each challenge forced us to be creative, resourceful, and relentless. Those moments shaped the company we are today.”
Success didn’t erupt suddenly from a single moment. A collection of networking efforts backed by strong branding, eye-catching designs, and a passionately loyal customer base forced the industry to notice Vontélle.
After launching in 2019, they experienced an early win after a Zoom meeting during the pandemic.
“It was actually our first industry call ever,” Flowers-Harris recalled. “Nickelodeon was one of the companies on that call, and they were immediately drawn to the bold style, cultural storytelling, and inclusivity of our frames. We followed up… That follow-up led to conversations, and, ultimately, to an invitation to pursue a licensing partnership.”
They had been in business less than a year when it happened, reinforcing an important tenet the women continue to follow. “Opportunity favors preparation, curiosity, and the courage to follow up,” Flowers-Harris pointed out.
The partnership with National Vision / America’s Best was sparked by an introduction to the retailer through an industry mentor. “We still had to pitch, prove our value, and clearly articulate why Vontélle deserved space on their shelves. We demonstrated not only our design and fit differentiation, but also our ability to perform at scale,” Flowers-Harris said.
Although stressful, those first meetings solidified the brand’s mission, vision, and ability to disrupt an industry.
“I realized how important it is to walk into every room ready to communicate my value and vision — even when I’m being underestimated. This journey has pushed me to speak up, stand tall, and believe fiercely in what I’m creating,” Vontélle Green said. “The success of Vontélle, our loyal customers, and our retail partners have proven that demand was always there, it just wasn’t being served.”
Forbes 50 Over 50
In 2024, the brand celebrated another victory when the founders were both selected for the Forbes 50 Over 50 list, a collection of women who have made an impact later in life. There is no application process; winners are nominated by the general public, vetted and analyzed by Forbes journalists and judged by a panel of executives and 50 Over 50 alumni. The process and the recognition, Vontélle Green said, felt “incredibly personal and affirming.”
She continued, “Being recognized at this point in my life truly touched me. It was a beautiful reminder that there’s always room to grow, no matter how many chapters you’ve lived. It made me feel seen, and it reaffirmed that the journey never really ends; we can keep reaching new heights and finding fresh purpose at every age.”
Are you doing something inspiring? Do you know someone who is pursuing a passion in their older years? If you or someone you know is 50 years old or older and should have their inspiring story told, please email the editors at Nifty 50+
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