For many fashion and lifestyle brands, sunglasses feel like a natural next step.
High-margin. Seasonless. Strong brand appeal.
But sunglasses are one of the most highly specialised (and underestimated!) categories in fashion.
Design is only one part of the equation.
Manufacturing complexity, compliance, customer expectations, pricing strategy, and scalability all play a critical role in whether a sunglasses launch succeeds or struggles.
Above all: Route to market.
Before launching a private label or bespoke sunglass collection, every brand should be able to answer five key questions:
1️⃣What synergy exists between your brand and sunglasses?
2️⃣Is your sunglasses customer the same as your fashion customer?
3️⃣Are you prepared for the complexity of eyewear manufacturing?
4️⃣Who is managing compliance and certifications?
5️⃣Can your production scale as your brand grows?
If you can’t answer all 5, you’re not alone.
That’s why SOLMAR exists.
We’re breaking each of these down in a new blog series, sharing practical insights from real-world eyewear development to help you assess whether sunglasses are the right extension for your brand, and how to approach the category properly. If launching sunglasses is on your radar, this series is for you.
