Marcolin and Marchon Eyewear, both under VSP Vision™, announced new senior leadership appointments to strengthen synergies and support integration ahead of their full unification scheduled for early 2027. Marco D’Acunzo assumes the role of President Eyewear Americas, overseeing operations in the US, Canada, and Latin America. Antonio Castiglione is appointed Managing Director LATAM for both companies. Ross Brownlee becomes President Eyewear EMEA & APAC, effective September 1, leading these regions as a single integrated business unit. Lorenzo Barberio is named Managing Director APAC for Marcolin and Marchon. Nicola Zotta, President of Eyewear and Managing Director of both brands, stated that this integrated leadership model aims to accelerate decision-making and enhance client support globally.
In an October 1, 2026 interview with 20/20 Europe, De Rigo Chief Marketing Officer Barbara De Rigo stated that the company prioritizes brand consistency over short-lived trends to sustain growth in the premium eyewear market. She argued that consumers increasingly value craftsmanship and heritage, viewing eyewear as a tool for self-expression rather than a purely functional accessory. De Rigo emphasized maintaining distinct identities across its portfolio, which includes licensed partners Chopard, Roberto Cavalli, Porsche Design, Philipp Plein, and Rodenstock. The strategy involves tailored collections that respect each brand’s aesthetic DNA while avoiding homogenization. By balancing family-owned agility with international execution capabilities, De Rigo aims to enhance point-of-sale presence and support opticians in differentiating their offerings through targeted content and training programs.
Francis de Lara, described as the world’s first fine jewellery-eyewear house, has introduced premium eyewear crafted from precious metals and gemstones. Each piece requires 250 to 750 hours of hand production. The debut collection, ‘Ribbons and Serpents,’ features materials including 24-karat gold, sterling silver, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, amethysts, garnets, tourmaline, kunzite, and ebony accents, all ethically sourced. Styles are limited to editions of 12, ensuring unique stone and metal combinations. The brand also offers a more affordable diffusion line, FDL Editions, which are hand-finished. New Autumn/Winter models include ‘Arum,’ made with surgical stainless steel and responsibly-sourced gems, and ‘Snake Eyes,’ featuring gold-plated titanium and acetate with natural sapphires.
Eyewear designer Emmanuel Andrivet presented the ANDRIVET collection for the first time at MIDO 2026, featuring advanced 3D-printed titanium frames with precious finishes and lightweight polyamide designs. Inspired by nature, Art Nouveau, and Gaudí’s architecture, the limited-edition models include the titanium Chrysope and polyamide Duke and Flow. Each frame incorporates Redtenbacher Ypsilon hinges and Zeiss lenses. The eyewear is printed in Europe and assembled in Spain. Andrivet, who has over 30 years of experience in 3D design, previously collaborated with brands such as Cartier, Boucheron, and Yohji Yamamoto Eyewear.
ARCUS announced a strategic partnership with French retailer Marc Le Bihan, marking the official launch of its first optical frame collection. The debut featured a pop-up at the Marc Le Bihan boutique in Paris from September 28 to October 6, 2026. Founded in 2023 for hand-pierced sunglasses, ARCUS adapted five emblematic frames into optical styles available at the new store. The brand offers a hybrid shopping experience where customers in France can order via the ARCUS website and book appointments at nearby Marc Le Bihan locations. Partner opticians perform measurements and lens customization on-site, allowing customers to choose between in-store pickup or paid home delivery after final assembly.
PVH Corp.'s Tommy Hilfiger unveiled the MR HILFIGER 01 optical frame, a premium style personally co-designed by Mr. Tommy Hilfiger and inspired by eyewear he wears himself. The Wellington-shaped frame features softly rounded lenses, bold acetate volumes, and signature details including an enamel Flag logo and asymmetric laminated stripes on the left temple tip. Manufactured by Safilo Group under license, the frame was showcased at the brand’s Spring 2027 runway show during New York Fashion Week. It is currently available on tommy.com, in TOMMY HILFIGER stores, and selected eyewear retailers worldwide.
French eyewear label Caroline Abram has unveiled its new Starlight collection. The line features frames carved from single blocks of acetate, utilizing sculptural techniques such as faceting and notching to create structured volumes and pronounced reliefs that shift in perception with light and movement. The design vocabulary emphasizes generous proportions while maintaining a sense of tension through rhythmic shaping. The collection includes bold, expressive masks alongside softer styles intended for finer faces, aiming to balance contrast without adding weight. Caroline Abram describes the series as rooted in individuality and unapologetic femininity, distinguishing it from current aesthetic trends by focusing on singularity, colour, and dimension rather than conformity.
IKOSS Eyewear has received the 2026 Red Dot Design Concept Award for its new modular eyewear system. The design features a patented concentric-circle frame architecture that eliminates traditional hinges and screws, allowing front frames and temples to be exchanged in three seconds without tools. Manufactured from stainless steel with ±0.01 mm precision, the system has passed over 100,000 test cycles and is now in serial production, compliant with EN ISO 12870. IKOSS states this modularity extends product lifecycles and reduces repair costs by up to 70%. The platform also includes open interfaces for future AR applications and smart modules, aiming to offer distinctive products for the premium eyewear market.
A new national survey conducted by the Contact Lens Institute, in partnership with the Opticians Association of Canada and Optik Magazine, indicates that Canadian opticians play a significant role in the contact lens experience. The findings suggest that many opticians would welcome an even greater opportunity to contribute to patient success. Published on October 9, 2026, the report focuses on the professional involvement of opticians within the Canadian market. Specific quantitative data regarding the extent of this role or the number of respondents is not provided in the available summary text.
Optical Prism published a post that redirects visitors to the original article titled "Jessica Alba, Pamela Anderson and L.G.R’s worldwide appeal." The source body contains only this redirection notice and does not provide further details about the celebrities' involvement with L.G.R eyewear or the nature of their worldwide appeal.
Effective October 1, 2026, Zeiss appointed Jesper Wiegandt as CEO of Zeiss Vision Care. He succeeds Sven Hermann, who remains CEO of Zeiss Consumer Markets and continues leading its board of management. Wiegandt retains his role as acting chief commercial officer of Zeiss Vision Care. Since joining Zeiss in 2022 as chief marketing officer, he has focused on strengthening the consumer brand and expanding awareness. Prior to Zeiss, he held international leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and founded a strategy consultancy. Separately, Zeiss named Axel Christian president of Zeiss North America, a newly created position unifying operations in the United States and Canada. Christian will lead regional growth initiatives and cross-segment collaboration, based in Dublin, California.
Xpanceo has partnered with Contamac to advance the development and manufacturing of augmented reality (AR) contact lenses. The collaboration aims to adapt Contamac’s established ophthalmic device manufacturing processes to support Xpanceo’s display and optical technologies, focusing on longer wear comfort, optical quality, and scalable production. Both soft and rigid lens options are being explored using standard geometries. A prototype utilizing a rigid lens demonstrates how stable structures help maintain precise positioning of display components without external devices. The companies employ a proprietary encapsulation method to integrate components directly into the polymer, ensuring clarity and preventing surface irregularities. Testing continues on various polymer formulations and curing conditions to achieve uniform integration while preserving component positioning.
Four major UK optical organizations launched a public health campaign to increase awareness of early childhood eye tests after analysis estimated that only around 5% of children aged five and under had an eye test in 2025. The initiative highlights the critical window for detecting conditions like amblyopia before school starts. Supporting data indicates more encouraging uptake among those under 16, with 39.7% to 46.1% tested. However, a survey revealed that 29% of parents have never taken their child for a full eye test, and 53% of non-glasses-wearing children lack professional testing. Campaign backers include Fight for Sight and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, aiming to correct misconceptions about age requirements for testing.
Xreal announced its Aura Android XR glasses start at $1,279 for reservation holders in the US, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. The optical see-through device features 12GB memory, a 70-degree field of view, and Bose audio, with broader ordering expected soon and shipments beginning this year. Separately, records show Sony transferred 43 U.S. patent properties related to virtual, augmented, and mixed reality headsets to Meta between June and September 2026. This follows a December 2025 agreement covering an expected 419 global patents. Neither company issued statements on the transaction, and reporting does not confirm changes to PlayStation VR2 support. Additionally, Norway proposed temporary restrictions on camera-equipped smart glasses in public settings, though these measures have not yet become law.
At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, XREAL announced a strategic partnership with ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) and unveiled the ROG XREAL R1 AR Gaming Glasses. Described as the world’s first 240Hz micro-OLED FHD (1920 x 1080) gaming glasses, the R1 features an exclusive ROG Control Dock for connectivity with PCs and consoles via DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0. The device weighs 91 grams and offers a 57° field of view, 3DoF spatial anchoring, electrochromic tinting, and Sound by Bose audio. Powered by XREAL’s X1 chip and patented X-Prism Optical Engine, it delivers a 171-inch virtual screen experience with 3ms motion-to-photon latency. The glasses are expected to ship globally in the first half of 2026.
Editorial relevance: The launch of specialized AR gaming glasses by a major hardware partnership expands the addressable market for smart eyewear beyond general consumer use, potentially driving higher-value accessory sales in e-commerce channels.
Silhouette, the Austrian rimless eyewear leader, announced an evolution of its iconic Titan Minimal Art collection. The update features a more delicate nasal bridge, sharper overall silhouette, and bolder proportions while maintaining exceptional lightness. New metallic finishes include Astral Gold, Aurora Rosegold, and Starlight Rhodium in polished and matte options, complemented by subtle gradients in Mint, Pink, and Blue. Roland Keplinger, Director of Design, stated the goal was to evolve the 1999 icon without losing its essence. The collection integrates frames and lenses designed at the Silhouette Lens Lab in Linz under the Complete Eyewear philosophy.
On July 19, 2023, Banuba released an update to its virtual makeup try-on platform, TINT. The new version expands the range of items available for trying on beyond makeup to include headwear, rings, necklaces, scarves, bracelets/watches, and sunglasses/eyeglasses. This addition targets specialized jewelry and eyewear brands as well as retailers with diverse product lines. Future updates are planned to add colored contacts and hair dyes. The release also introduces a gift selection feature allowing users to upload a photo of a recipient. An inbuilt recommendations AI analyzes the image to suggest fitting makeup products, aiming to reduce staff dependency and improve customer convenience during gift purchases.
Banuba released Face AR SDK version 1.13.0 on May 3, 2024, introducing features aimed at improving eyewear try-on accuracy and expanding virtual makeup capabilities. The update includes pupillary distance measurement, which functions in real-time and post-processing to help select fitting sizes for eyewear products. A new biometric match feature allows the SDK to compare two faces for authentication or similarity assessments. Additionally, the release expands prefab support to include nails, nail textures, and colored contacts. The SDK now supports GLTF 2.0 standard extensions, including Draco compression and alternative PBR material methods, enhancing the realism of AR items like virtual makeup.
Banuba released an update to the TINT virtual try-on plugin for Shopify on January 21, 2026. The primary addition is automated AI makeup digitization, which extracts product data directly from merchant catalogs, replacing manual entry or bulk CSV uploads. This feature supports cosmetics, eyewear, and hair dyes. Currently exclusive to the Shopify plugin, Banuba plans to extend this functionality to its standalone version and Tiendanube plugin in the future. The update also introduces a guided onboarding flow for new users to simplify setup and enables merchants to independently tune individual colors within makeup palettes, aiming to speed up inventory management.
Banuba released an updated version of its TINT platform on June 3, 2026, introducing simplified AI eyewear digitization for its Shopify virtual try-on plugin. The new feature allows store owners to generate complete 3D models from just one or two photos of glasses or sunglasses, followed by manual size and fit adjustments. Additionally, the update includes a streamlined onboarding flow designed for non-technical users and expands supported product categories to include contact lenses, bringing the total to six (makeup, eyewear, contact lenses, hair dye, headwear, jewelry). These changes aim to make setting up virtual try-on faster and more convenient for merchants.
Banuba announced that Brazilian cosmetics brand Océane reached a 32% add-to-cart rate in July using the TINT virtual try-on platform. The company initially piloted the technology for concealer and foundation, where rates rose from a 3% industry average to 20.15% within the first month, causing stock shortages. Banuba states this performance exceeds 1000% of the industry average. While the source lists support for categories including sunglasses and eyeglasses, the reported metrics specifically concern beauty products. These figures represent company-claimed results rather than independently verified data.
EssilorLuxottica introduced Nuance Audio Plus, the second generation of its hearing glasses, at an international event in Milan in late September. Designed for individuals with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, the device integrates open-ear hearing technology into eyeglass frames alongside vision correction. According to the manufacturer, the new model offers increased amplification compared to the first generation, improved battery life, and clearer speech perception in noisy environments. When paired with an iPhone running iOS 16 or later, users can answer and end calls by double-tapping the frame. The collection will be presented at Booth 300 during the 70th EUHA International Congress in Hannover from October 14 to 16.
The application phase for the Mido Awards 2027 has begun, inviting eyewear companies and optical retailers to compete. Winners will be announced during the Mido trade fair held February 6–8, 2027, at Fiera Milano Rho. The CSE Award (fifth edition) and CSE Corporate Award (second edition), initiated by Mido, ANFAO, and Certottica, accept submissions until January 8, focusing on sustainable products and corporate ESG strategies respectively. The Best Store Award (twelfth edition), open to global optical shops, closes applications on December 31. Additionally, the Sergio Cereda Eyewear Design Award accepts entries until November 30.
On October 8, 2026, Hoya Lens Deutschland made a social-media post series with accompanying texts available to its partner businesses for World Sight Day. The materials focus on eye health and regular vision tests, covering aspects of vision in children and adults. They aim to help optical shops raise customer awareness about the importance of regular eye exams and highlight their professional advisory competence. Partners can also conduct local actions such as vision tests or information offers. Activities can be shared using the international hashtag #LoveYourEyes. Hoya is also supporting the day on its own social-media channels.
The children’s eyewear frame ZIGZAG by Karavan Kids won the Silmo d’Or 2026 in the Children category at Silmo Paris. The model, designed by Jeanne Delfosse and Jeanne Vigneron, defeated four other finalists. According to the Design Eyewear Group, the jury praised its technical construction, including the hinge design, and child-friendly geometric patterns. Karavan Kids has been part of the Design Eyewear Group since 2025. This marks the group’s third consecutive Silmo d’Or award, following CENSUR by Prodesign in 2024 and FLARE by Face à Face in 2025. Each prize went to a different brand within the corporate group.
Synsam AB (publ) repurchased a total of 55,000 of its own shares between December 29, 2025, and January 2, 2026. These transactions are part of a share buy-back program announced on August 21, 2025, with a maximum value of MSEK 160, running until February 27, 2026. The repurchases were executed on Nasdaq Stockholm by DNB Carnegie Investment Bank AB to adjust the company’s capital structure. Daily volumes included 20,000 shares on December 29 and 30, and 15,000 shares on January 2, with no activity on New Year's Eve or Day. Following these purchases, Synsam holds 5,061,354 own shares out of 147,864,494 outstanding shares.
Synsam AB (publ) repurchased a total of 70,000 own shares between January 5 and January 9, 2026. These transactions were executed on Nasdaq Stockholm by DNB Carnegie Investment Bank AB as part of a share buy-back program announced on August 21, 2025. The program, which runs from August 25, 2025, to February 27, 2026, has a maximum value of MSEK 160 and aims to adjust the company’s capital structure by reducing share capital. Daily volumes ranged from 10,000 to 20,000 shares, with weighted average prices between SEK 66.63 and SEK 67.94. Following these purchases, Synsam held 5,131,354 own shares out of 147,864,494 outstanding shares as of January 9, 2026.
Synsam AB (publ) repurchased a total of 100,000 own shares between January 12 and January 16, 2026, as part of a share buy-back program initiated to adjust the company’s capital structure. The transactions were executed on Nasdaq Stockholm by DNB Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ). This activity falls under a maximum MSEK 160 program announced on August 21, 2025, which runs until February 27, 2026. Following these repurchases, Synsam held 5,231,354 own shares as of January 16, 2026, against 147,864,494 outstanding shares. Daily volumes averaged 20,000 shares with weighted average prices ranging from SEK 66.71 to SEK 68.15.
Synsam AB (publ) repurchased a total of 115,000 own shares between January 19 and January 23, 2026. These transactions are part of a share buy-back program announced on August 21, 2025, with a maximum value of MSEK 160, running until February 27, 2026. The repurchases were executed on Nasdaq Stockholm by DNB Carnegie Investment Bank AB to adjust the company’s capital structure. Daily volumes ranged from 20,000 to 25,000 shares, with weighted average prices between SEK 64.67 and SEK 66.93. Following these purchases, Synsam holds 5,346,354 own shares out of 147,864,494 outstanding shares.
Synsam AB repurchased a total of 125,000 own shares between January 26 and January 30, 2026. These transactions are part of a share buy-back program announced on August 21, 2025, with a maximum value of MSEK 160, running until February 27, 2026. The purpose is to adjust the company’s capital structure by reducing share capital. All repurchases were executed on Nasdaq Stockholm by DNB Carnegie Investment Bank AB on behalf of Synsam. Following these purchases, Synsam holds 5,471,354 own shares as of January 30, 2026. The total number of outstanding shares remains 147,864,494. Daily volumes averaged 25,000 shares, with weighted average prices ranging from SEK 65.68 to SEK 66.67 per day during this period.
Synsam AB (publ) will release its Year-end report 2025 on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 07.30 CET. The company will simultaneously publish President and CEO Håkan Lundstedt’s comment and a results presentation with CFO Per Hedblom as video materials on the investor relations website. Live Q&A sessions are scheduled for the same day via webcast without pre-registration requirements. A Swedish-language session begins at 09.30 CET, while an English-language session starts at 10.30 CET. Both sessions feature Lundstedt and Hedblom. These presentations aim to complement the written report and provide further insight into operations for stock market participants, including investors, analysts, and media.
Synsam AB (publ) repurchased a total of 125,000 own shares between February 2 and February 6, 2026. These transactions form part of a share buy-back program announced on August 21, 2025, with a maximum value of MSEK 160, running until February 27, 2026. The repurchases were executed on Nasdaq Stockholm by DNB Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ) to adjust the company’s capital structure in compliance with EU Market Abuse Regulation and Safe Harbour Regulation standards. Daily volumes averaged 25,000 shares, with weighted average prices ranging from SEK 65.137296 to SEK 65.837776. Following these purchases, Synsam holds 5,596,354 own shares out of 147,864,494 outstanding shares.
Synsam Group has launched Isak V™, a new eyewear brand designed and manufactured in Sweden at its Production and Innovation Center in Frösön. This release marks a step in Synsam’s strategy to reshore production from Asia, with annual output expected to exceed 250,000 frames by 2028, up from approximately 100,000 in 2025. The Isak V collection comprises 14 ophthalmic acetate frames and three sunglasses featuring modern Scandinavian design, combining acetate fronts with metal temples. Priced at a recommended retail price of SEK 1,750, the collection will be available in all Synsam stores across the Nordic region starting February 12, 2026. CEO Håkan Lundstedt stated that consolidating design and production locally strengthens competitiveness and reduces dependency on global supply chains.
Editorial relevance: The launch of Isak V highlights Synsam's strategic reshoring of eyewear production to Sweden, aiming to strengthen supply chain control and local manufacturing capabilities.
Synsam AB (publ) repurchased a total of 125,000 own shares between February 9 and February 13, 2026. These transactions are part of a share buy-back program announced on August 21, 2025, with a maximum value of MSEK 160, running from August 25, 2025, to February 27, 2026. The program aims to adjust the company’s capital structure by reducing share capital. All repurchases were executed on Nasdaq Stockholm by DNB Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ). Following these purchases, Synsam holds 5,721,354 own shares out of 147,864,494 outstanding shares. Daily volumes averaged 25,000 shares, with weighted average prices ranging from SEK 58.83 to SEK 65.73 during the week.
Synsam Group announced strong fourth-quarter results for 2025, with net sales rising 9.4% to SEK 1,784 million and organic growth reaching 11.4%. Full-year net sales increased 9.8% to SEK 7,065 million, supported by a 10.4% rise in spectacles subscription revenue and a customer base of approximately 756,000 subscribers. The company reported an EBITDA margin of 23.2% for the quarter and proposed a dividend of SEK 1.80 per share. Strategic developments included the full implementation of Synsam EyeView in Sweden and Norway, the launch of smart glasses (including Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, and Nuance), and the establishment of a new e-commerce warehouse to meet online demand. Synsam also expanded its store network, opening 24 new locations in 2025, and integrated second-hand frames into its standard assortment.
Editorial relevance: Synsam's year-end report highlights record financial performance driven by subscription growth and strategic investments in smart glasses and e-commerce infrastructure, reinforcing its position in the Nordic optical retail market.
Synsam AB (publ) repurchased a total of 100,000 own shares between February 16 and February 20, 2026. These transactions form part of the company’s share buy-back program, announced on August 21, 2025, with a maximum value of MSEK 160 and running until February 27, 2026. The repurchases were executed on Nasdaq Stockholm by DNB Carnegie Investment Bank AB to adjust Synsam’s capital structure. Daily volumes averaged 20,000 shares, with weighted average prices ranging from SEK 60.23 to SEK 66.50. Following these purchases, Synsam holds 5,821,354 own shares out of 147,864,494 outstanding shares. The program complies with EU Market Abuse Regulation and Safe Harbour Regulation requirements.
Synsam AB (publ) concluded its share buy-back program on February 27, 2026, having repurchased a total of 2,550,748 own shares for approximately SEK 160 million. The final week’s activity involved buying back 80,646 shares between February 23 and February 27, executed on Nasdaq Stockholm by DNB Carnegie Investment Bank AB (publ). Daily volumes ranged from 9,589 to 18,000 shares, with weighted average prices falling from SEK 69.77 to SEK 68.20. This completion marks the end of the maximum MSEK 160 program announced on August 21, 2025, which ran from August 25, 2025, until February 27, 2026. Following these transactions, Synsam holds 5,902,000 own shares out of 147,864,494 outstanding shares. The initiative aims to adjust the company’s capital structure by reducing share capital in compliance with EU Market Abuse Regulation and Safe Harbour Regulation standards.
Synsam Group has launched Alicia Lind, a new eyewear brand designed and manufactured at its Production and Innovation Center in Frösön, Sweden. This initiative supports the company's strategy to reshore production and enhance supply chain resilience. The collection includes 14 ophthalmic acetate frames and six sunglasses, targeting modern women with high-quality designs at an attractive price point. Recommended prices are SEK 2,500 for eyeglasses and SEK 1,500 for sunglasses. The brand will be available in all Synsam stores across the Nordics starting March 12, 2026. Synsam reported producing approximately 100,000 frames in 2025, with plans to double capacity to around 200,000 frames in 2026.
Synsam Group launched Alicia Lind™, a new eyewear brand designed and manufactured at its Production and Innovation Center in Frösön, Jämtland. The collection includes 14 ophthalmic acetate frames and six sunglasses, available in all Synsam stores across the Nordics starting March 12, 2026. Recommended prices are SEK 2,500 for eyeglasses and SEK 1,500 for sunglasses. This launch supports Synsam’s strategy to reshore production and increase value chain control. The Frösön factory, inaugurated in 2022, produced approximately 100,000 frames in 2025, with plans to double output to roughly 200,000 frames in 2026. CEO Håkan Lundstedt stated that local production aims to improve flexibility, reduce supply chain risks, and strengthen margins over time.
Synsam AB (publ) has issued notice for its annual general meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, 22 April 2026, at 11:00 a.m. CEST at the company’s headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Shareholders must be registered with Euroclear Sweden AB by the record date of Tuesday, 14 April 2026, and provide notice of attendance by Thursday, 16 April 2026, via electronic, postal, email, or telephone channels. The proposed agenda includes resolutions on financial statements, board elections, auditor appointments, remuneration reports, share capital adjustments, and a long-term incentive program (LTIP 2026). Nominee shareholders are required to complete voting right registration by the same deadline to participate.