BOULDER - Zeal Optics Inc. is selling its ski goggles and sunglasses in 1,000 retail sites in Europe, Canada and Australia, through parent company Maui Jim Inc. in Peoria, Illinois.

Boulder-based Zeal is working with 16 Maui Jim subsidiaries around the globe on the project, Chelsea Lawson, a Zeal spokeswoman, said Friday. Some 108 sales and operational employees in various international locations are working on brand sales, she said. The company was bought by Maui Jim in spring 2011 for an undisclosed sum.

Zeal's sunglass frames are made with Z-Resin, a plant-based material. Other sunglass companies make sunglasses using crude oil and other products.

Zeal also expects to sell out its first run of the newly launched iON HD camera goggles in January or February, Lawson said. The goggles feature built-in video and photo features and retail for about $400. Initial iON ski goggle sales are exceeding the company's expectations, Lawson said without giving details.

Zeal previously made its name in the outdoor industry with the Z3 GPS ski goggles, which include GPS information displayed inside the goggles' lenses.

The company said in June that it had 13 employees working on marketing, sales and design from a new headquarters office at 1230 Spruce St. in Boulder. Maui Jim is privately held and does not release revenue figures.