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EYECON Show 2026 Asked about what is planned for 2026, Lackran told Eyestylist this week: “We have not settled on our dates yet, but plan on participating in next year’s Eyewear Design Week. For next time, we’re already thinking about ways to enhance the experience—possibly expanding our programming, incorporating more interactive brand moments, and even exploring additional partnerships that align with the luxury ethos of EYECON. Growth is definitely on the horizon, but our focus remains on maintaining the exclusivity and high-level curation that make this event special. I would rather have the right brands versus a lot of brands.”

To find out more about EYECON visit https://www.eyecon.show/

Images by @jeremiahhgamble for EYECON Show / This feature was written by Clodagh Norton exclusively for Eyestylist.com. 

A strong emphasis on ‘focusing on the future’, a wide-reaching line up of exhibitors, and what was described as “a jam-packed educational programme with more than 100 hours of free CPD content” contributed to a successful show overall for 2025 

100% Optical has also grown its representation of independent eyewear brands, with 2025 featuring a wider selection of creative established and emerging labels including Danielle Rattray, VAVA, Erker’s, MYKITA, Dita, RES/REI, ROLF, FACE A FACE, Portrait, Clayton Franklin, Kirk and Kirk and GAZUSA, among others. Those seeking sustainable eyewear were also well served with a choice of brands which included Sea2see, Bird and Waterfall.

Brands exhibiting for the first time at the event included OTIS Eyewear from Australia, an established eyewear brand with a leaning towards a fusion of quality features, sustainable materials with excellent lens technology: collections by DITA, Chains for Frames and Flippan Look also made their first appearance at the show. Above: VAVA Eyewear returned to 100% Optical – originating from Portugal, VAVA is one of the hottest and most highly regarded avantgarde independent eyewear collections – image courtesy of 100% Optical

In the LOVE  Eyewear Awards by 100% Optical, independent brands were also well represented with prizes going to Tanaka eyewear (new designer 2025), VASUMA (unisex frame of the year), Clayton Franklin (luxury eyewear of the year), Spada Laura/ GAZUSA (Women’s frame of the year) and Götti Dimension Next (kid’s frame of the year), among others. The Optical Gallery won recognition for the Best Use of Social Media.

“We’d like to extend a special thank you to our valued exhibitors, sponsors, and all of the visitors who made 100% Optical the must-attend event for the industry again,” said Celsa Vazquez, Commercial Director, CloserStill Media. “This exhibition is a true celebration of innovation, expertise, and collaboration and this year was no different. We showcased a new layout and reimagined floor plan, encouraged the industry to clock hours in CPD and witnessed so many exciting launches….”

Kirk & Kirk introduced the models Joel (above) and Ruth, among others, at the London fair. From the Kaleidoscope Collection, model Joel offers a strong silhouette that plays to the chunky yet lightweight material; model Ruth, a gently curved, sensuous form  brings a new feminine dimension to the collection overall. Crafted from their own K-Lite™ material, a sheet material specially produced for Kirk & Kirk in Italy, these frames are light and comfortable to wear, and come in unique colours, allowing the collection to stand out in a crowd.

Next year, the London show 100% Optical will take place from 28th February to 2nd March 2026 at Excel London. For more information visit www.100percentoptical.com

The independent premium lifestyle brand from Australia was presented to optical retailers and press at an exclusive launch party in White City House, London – the event was attended by the cricket legends, Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan 

OTIS Eyewear, an established high-quality sunglasses brand founded in Yallingup, Australia, has launched in the UK, with The Eyewear Collective, a newly formed eyewear distribution company with a curated selection of brands and marketing services for independent opticians (@theeyewearcollective). Otis Eyewear’s CEO, Nathan Omodei, and cricket legends Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan were present at the special launch party in London which took place in the exclusive White City House. During the evening Nathan Omodei expressed his excitement at bringing the brand to the UK. The collection offers an award-winning plano sun range featuring a trade marked LIT lens, with properties such as excellent colour enhancement, contrast and reduced glare. The brand is also expanding into Rx, Omodei announced during the presentation of the brand. “With several years of searching and testing behind us, we’re excited to launch OTIS LIT Rx here in the UK as part of our global launch of this product,” he said. Above: OTIS Eyewear is well known in Australia for its high quality and its commitment to using mineral glass lenses; the brand is B-Corp Certified and places emphasis on its sustainable orientation in product development. OTIS Eyewear is launched in the UK through The Eyewear Collective, a newly formed eyewear business which launched officially at 100% Optical, London 

About OTIS Eyewear: The sunglass brand was founded in 2000, built with the intention of creating premium eyewear with a quality-driven timeless style and exclusively featuring mineral glass lenses. Celebrating 25 years in 2025, OTIS is looking forward to expansion beyond Australia and further championing their commitment to craftsmanship, style and sustainability – “to see the world through a clearer lens”. OTIS frames are built on qualities of “style, durability, sustainability and technical excellence”. To find out more about OTIS Eyewear visit https://otiseyewear.com – Photography by Grant Walker @ga_walker

Among the many trend stories in eyewear, a soft palette of colours has emerged as one of the most sensual and chic directions in the Spring/Summer collections

Recent eyewear trade events in Munich and Milan unveiled a wide-reaching selection of new colour proposals, among them some soft, light ice-cream tones that lend a new delicacy and feminine expression to women’s eyewear as well as a special elegance in some styles for men. Tones of light blue, powder pink, tea rose, buttery and celestial yellow and light tangerine are among the lighter hues that have been introduced more widely than in previous seasons and explored at different levels of transparency or saturation to bring a new feeling to the frames. Above: 70705 Full Xinox series – LOOK Moda – the colour palette in this collection by LOOK  has been designed to reflect a trendy retro style with colour-blocking effects – the material Xinox, a steel originating from Sweden, is given a softer lighter look through the colour combinations and use of some surprising and very contemporary tones, www.lookocchiali.it

Hypno1 by FACE A FACE is a sunglass style in the new collection at the French eyewear brand for Spring/Summer. Exploring an avant-garde concept to challenge the norms of classic eyewear, the shape has oversized temples that frame the front and also features a riveted hinge and visible temple-cores. Available in two hybrid shapes, the colour pictured combines a soft “pink” nude and egg-shell blue. www.faceaface-paris.com

Lafont’s latest collection proposes some playful material mixes with colour combinations that are both fun and sophisticated. Model Rhythme 5726 combines a solid light pink with a deeper tone of red in a structured shape with beautifully confident lines to “frame the eyes” with a particular and striking design. www.lafont.com

Suitto Eyewear from Spain has created an optical collection with a well balanced palette that ranges from classical tones of black and tortoise through to several light pastel tones of crystal pink, light mauve and light turquoise. The designs are also very distinctive thanks to the refined bevelling which provides a sculpted look. Suitto places much emphasis also on creating shapes that suit and fit the face. www.suittoeyewear.com

Article One’s subtle sports details are combined with a fashion sensibility to ensure their designs suit all needs across an individual’s active lifestyle. The subtle tone of “suede” is one of a series of on-trend tones in a palette (have a look also at their colours like butterscotch and vintage crystal) that evokes soft varieties of mocha mousse, the Pantone Colour of the Year. See all their finel eyewear styles at www.articleoneeyewear.com

RSF has many different frames featured in pastel tones and light blues and yellows for the Spring/Summer. The Numero 128 – a frame with a cool double bridge and elongated rectangular eye shape, comes in a tone called “Cremoso Q” a lightly saturated creamy yellow tone that perfectly fits with the delicate palette that is currently evolving and catch our eye! Take a look at more of the Retrosuperfuture frames at  https://retrosuperfuture.com

This feature was written by Clodagh Norton for Eyestylist.com – all rights reserved.

The UK’s optical show takes place this weekend (1st to 3rd March 2025) – eyewear companies from Europe and the US will be exhibiting – in total 250 exhibitors have been confirmed for the trade event

Returning to London’s Excel Centre this week, 100% Optical organisers are promising an action-packed show, the 11th edition of the UK’s largest event for the optical industry. The programme for the weekend will include an education programme, in partnership with the Association of Optometrist (AOP), as well as optical fashion, design and cutting-edge equipment and technology, the return of 100% Ophthalmology, a co-located event which is the first in the world to bring together optometry and ophthalmology under one roof, plus a host of ‘happy hour’ networking opportunities.

For visitors who wish to find eyewear design inspiration, this year’s event will see the return of the 100% Studio (sponsored by Nikon Lenswear UK). The event organisers say this area will be “bigger, and bolder” featuring an enhanced dedicated area featuring new brands, 12 new stands, a line of up independently handcrafted eyewear. The organisers say this area is committed to championing the industry’s leading independent eyewear brands that honour craftsmanship, creativity and innovation.

As the show approaches, Eyestylist is pleased to share some brand new eyewear collections from international independent eyewear brands, showing at the London event for the first time. Above: the Italian company Blackfin will exhibit at 100% Optical – they have multiple releases, including new models in the Spring/Summer 2025 Blackfin One collection: this line embodies a bold, sophisticated vision, where modern shapes merge with a timeless aesthetic. The desire to experiment with new geometries converges with a constantly updated colour palette, www.blackfin.eu

Erker’s from the US return to 100% Optical each year. This collection is full of artisan details, heritage references, and fresh colours and patterns. Highlights include the Bay Window Collection with 27 chic eyewear frames, blending the story of the brand’s German heritage with modern style. Inspired by the charm of St. Louis and the warmth of home, the Bay Window Collection includes 20 optical frames, 4 sunglasses, and 3 additions to the limited-production ‘Special Reserve’ series. This collection also adds 18 new colourways, including unique frame shapes made of metal, acetate, or in combination, and a subdued, modern colour palette that provides flattering choices for all  specs wearers. www.erkers1879.com

ROLF frames continue to be popular in the UK and with some of the leading optical retailers thanks to their quality and material innovation, in natural wood, horn, stone and 3D printed material made from castor beans. 100% Optical will be an opportunity to see their new designs in the award-winning Evolved, Substance and Fusion collections for Spring/Summer 2025. www.rolf-spectacles.com

Rich colours and artistic flourishes with playful geometric design details define the new FACE A FACE collection – on show at the Design Eyewear Group stand this weekend at 100% Optical. Avant-garde concepts, bold, hexagonal, oval and square eyewear shapes and visually exciting details all feature here, in sunglasses and opticals that are full of unique expression. www.faceaface-paris.com

Dita-Lancier has just launched a new collection designed for performance and everyday wear, where eyewear functionality meets “superior style and comfort”. The frames in the collection offer ergonomic design, lightweight silhouettes, and durable yet elegant structures that benefit from particular features for comfort such as flex-fitting temples and adjustable anti-slip notepads. www.dita.com

MYKITA will exhibit at 100% Optical this year. Among their popular collection is the Mykita Lite range, defined by modern silhouettes and pure constructions. This concept has been developed to offer super lightweight frames that also offer a refined and sophisticated aesthetic that is a pleasure to wear. www.mykita.com

100% Optical is a trade-only event for optical retailers taking place from 1st-3rd March 2025. To find out more visit www.100percentoptical.com