Sunglasses have become more than just a form of eye protection. Today’s sunglasses are both fashionable and functional, combining design with innovative technical components such as high-tech, highly-customized lenses. Consumers’ demand for multi-purpose eyewear has led to the steady growth of the global sunglasses market. According to analysts at Technavio, the market will reach $142.3 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 7.18%.
In this blog, we identify the key and prominent vendors in the global sunglasses market
Key vendors
Luxottica
Luxottica Group S.p.A. is an Italian company and the world’s largest eyewear company, with over 7,000 retail stores worldwide. As a vertically integrated company, Luxottica designs, manufactures, distributes and retails its eyewear brands, including Lenscrafters, Sunglass Hut, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical, Eyemed vision care plan, and Glasses.com. Its best known brands are Ray-Ban, Persol, and Oakley.
Safilo
Safilo is a fully integrated Italian eyewear creator and worldwide distributor and a leader in the premium sector for sunglasses, optical frames and sports eyewear. Design inspired and brand driven, Safilo translates extraordinary design into excellent products created thanks to superior craftsmanship expertise dating back to 1878. Safilo’s portfolio encompasses both proprietary brands and licensed brands.
Essilor
Essilor is the world leader in ophthalmic optics with a presence in 100 countries. The Group designs, manufactures and markets an extensive range of vision care solutions that help to correct, protect and prevent risks to the visual health of around one billion people worldwide. The Group also develops and markets equipment, instruments and services for eyecare professionals. Its flagship brands are Varilux®, Crizal®, Transitions®, Definity®, Xperio®, Optifog™, Foster Grant®, Bolon® and Costa®.
LVMH
LVMH is a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate, headquartered in Paris, France. The company was formed by the 1987 merger of fashion house Louis Vuitton with Moet Hennesey, a company formed after the 1971 merger between the champagne producer Moët & Chandon and Hennessy, the cognac manufacturer. It controls around 60 subsidiaries that each manage a small number of prestigious brands.
Maui Jim
Maui Jim began in 1980 as a small company selling sunglasses in Lahaina, Hawaii. Seeing a need in the market for technology that could combat intense glare and harmful UV while bringing the brilliant colors of the island to life, the company engineered the revolutionary PolarizedPlus2® lens. Maui Jim now offers over 125 styles of sunglasses, 100% of which are polarized and protect from 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
Other prominent vendors
Fielmann
Fielmann AG is a German optics company focusing on retail eyewear. External sales in Europe with 695 branches in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia (including franchises and industries) amounted to €1.51 billion in sales and 7.8 million glasses in 2015. The company is seen as the market leader in Germany and the largest optical chain in Europe.
Pivothead
Founded in 2010, Pivothead has set the standard for imaging performance, innovation and style in the realm of eyewear embedded cameras. Pivothead launched the world’s first 1080p video recording glasses with four unique models and 16 distinct styles comprised of various lens and color options. It is the first global brand specializing in the combination of stylish eyewear and feature-rich high quality cameras.
Revo
Founded in 1985, Revo quickly became a global performance eyewear brand known as the leader in polarized lens technology. Revo sunglasses were first created by utilizing lens technology developed by NASA as solar protection for satellites. Nearly three decades later, Revo continues to build on its rich tradition of technology and innovation by offering the clearest and most advanced high-contrast polarized sunglass available.
Specsavers Optical
Specsavers is an international company providing eye care services, affordable glasses, and contact lenses to a number of countries in Europe and across the globe. Its range of glasses features an incredible variety of styles, including the latest designs from some of Europe’s top fashion houses. In addition to eyewear, many of Specsavers stores also provide a hearing service with fully-trained audiologists offering comprehensive hearing tests and the latest digital hearing aids.
Charmant
The Charmant Group, established in 1956 in Japan, is a manufacturer and distributor of frames and ready to wear sunglasses. Charmant eyewear strives to provide state-of-the-art eyewear in both conservative and modern designs. This makes Charmant the ideal collection for anyone looking to find the best in value and style. The Charmant Titanium Collection blends the durability and beauty of titanium with modern designs to create a collection that is truly built to last.
De Rigo Vision
De Rigo SpA is a world leader in the design, production and distribution of high-end eyewear and sunwear. It was founded in 1978 as a small company of artisans. In the following years, De Rigo SpA grew tremendously, becoming a leading Group in the glasses market. Thanks to an extensive wholesale distribution network, the Group’s products are distributed in approximately 80 countries, mainly in Europe, Asia and the Americas, through 15 companies with 18 business divisions and over 100 independent distributors.
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