Sport influences remain strong – and growing (AW 2026/27) – in ready-to-wear and mainline sunglass and optical collections – look for tech details created with a particularly luxurious finish, a consistent exploration of the potential of functional details for enhanced comfort and a noteworthy use of sports details to inspire new design concepts with a superior build and contemporary edge…all the examples selected and cited by Eyestylist.com show focus on technical excellence and performance for particular wearer needs – without compromising on style and good design
Sport influences in the main line collections are nothing new. Yet this season and into 2027, sport inspiration is a driving focus for some eyewear designers. Even the subtlest details, shapes or material finishes may be informed by a sports aesthetic, with new iterations of masks and wrap sunglasses in the premium, luxury and avant-garde collections.
There have also been a number of intriguing collaborations between independent eyewear brands, fashion labels, and even events which propose luxe, sports-infused performance models that perfectly fuse qualities from different worlds. They include KITON x L.G.R, Article One x Mission Workshop and Brett x Wheels and Waves – and announced just in the last 24 hours, RONALDINHO x DITA, in light of the upcoming World Cup. This collection is billed as “a shared vision of artistry, performance, and individuality”.
Above: KITON x L.G.R, a collaboration collection launched earlier in the year, the styles were developed to translate KITON’s sartorial aesthetic into an essential elegant, high-tech accessory, “capable of combining style, performance, and optical innovation”. The style pictured is an 8-base curved wraparound which features Barberini mineral glass polarised sun lenses – www.lgrworld.com
Frames by Article One, including those featured in its collab with Mission Workshop blend performance and a tasteful minimal design aesthetic for sports enthusiasts who seek a pared-back contemporary design for all activities. Retangular and confident, the Manistee sunglasses brings quiet athleticism through the double-bar format and subtle surface sculpting. Custom integrated spring hinges and adjustable pads ensure a precision fit, while TR18 polarized lenses add performance to the optics. Acetate with hand polished and matte finishes, highlight its depth and crafted presence. Find out more about the collection at www.articleoneeyewear.com
SALT’s 20 Year Collection honours the brand’s history with inspired wrap designs, handcrafted in Japan. The bold sporty acetate wrap shapes are inspired by SALT’s early designs dating back to 2006, interpreted with refinement through Japanese craftsmanship and remarkable attention to detail – and made to elevate any look, from surf-inspired looks to streetwear layers. Interior matting, newly developed hardware, and SALT.’s proprietary stopper hinges reflect a level of precision and durability that sets these frames apart. Finished with 8-base Japanese polarized lenses and a 20th anniversary plaque, each limited-production piece is built to feel elevated, refined, and one of a kind. www.saltoptics.com
Avantgarde label VAVA is also an interested in sports design and how it can influence structure – even in optical frame designs. Their new model WL0118 is a rectangular optical silhouette crafted from German silver and complemented by lightweight aluminium hinges. Defined by a minimalism aesthetic, and an unusual bridge detail, the frame looks unique and modern, with a subtle sports-infused design which gives it edge. www.vava.com
The French independent label BRETT collaborates with Wheels and Waves (a festival in Biarritz, South of France) to create technical designs combining functionality and attitude. The new WW2026 has a stainless-steel frame, reinterpreting BRETT Eyewear’s aesthetic through the bold and raw universe of Wheels and Waves. On the side shields, a welded metal section evokes the Wheels & Waves logo, like a machined component integrated directly into the frame. The matte, gunmetal, and black finishes reinforce the industrial and minimalist aesthetic, while the category 2 polarized CR39 lenses provide contrast, visual depth, and visual comfort in all riding conditions. Find out more at https://brett-eyewear.com
This feature was written by Clodagh Norton. AI was not used in the writing of the feature. All rights reserved.
