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Eyewear Is Booming, But It’s Not Just About Tech

Once an afterthought, the category is now growing faster than handbags and apparel thanks to accessible pricing, distinct aesthetics and glasses brands that prioritise identity over gimmicks.
Beyond smart glasses, Oakley styles like its Plantaris sunglasses are booming during a larger eyewear boom.
Beyond smart glasses, Oakley styles like its Plantaris sunglasses are booming during a larger eyewear boom.
By
BoF PROFESSIONAL

Oakley turns 50 this year, but the California-founded eyewear maker is not so concerned about staying on-trend. If anything, its fast-paced growth in recent seasons is largely fuelled by archival styles such as its reissued “Eye Jacket” frames from 1994 and a new “Plantaris” frame inspired by a line from the late ‘90s.

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Further Reading

The Smart Glasses Gold Rush, Explained

Meta’s $3.5 billion investment in EssilorLuxottica is the clearest sign yet that some of the biggest names in tech and eyewear see smart glasses as a commercially viable category with a long-term future.

About the author
Lei Takanashi
Lei Takanashi

Lei Takanashi is a Correspondent at The Business of Fashion (BoF). He is based in New York City and covers menswear, streetwear, young consumer trends, and the intersection between fashion and culture.

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