See more and Be more: eyewear e-commerce insights from EssilorLuxottica
Eyewear remains one of the few categories that manages to stay afloat in uncertain times. This is primarily due to its accessible price point for a broad audience.
Currently, there are three major players dominating the luxury eyewear market:
1) EssilorLuxottica
The company offers a comprehensive range of products: prescription glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and ophthalmic lenses. It represents both proprietary and licensed brands (including Prada, Miu Miu, Brunello Cucinelli, Chanel, Moncler, Ralph Lauren.
2) Kering Eyewear
Kering Eyewear, founded in 2014, was one of only two segments to show positive growth within the troubled Kering Group in 2024, recording +8% comparable change YoY (the other one is Bottega Veneta with +6%).
It designs, develops, and distributes eyewear for a portfolio of 14 brands, obviously including Kering brands: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, and Balenciaga.
Interestingly, in 2017, Kering and Richemont announced a strategic partnership for the development, manufacturing, and global distribution of eyewear for Richemont Maisons, including Maison Alaïa, Cartier, Chloé, dunhill, and Montblanc. Richemont also became a minority shareholder in Kering Eyewear.
3) LVMH-owned Thélios
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Italy. In addition to its two proprietary brands, Thélios produces eyewear for LVMH Maisons, including Dior, Fendi, and Celine.
As companies have submitted their universal registration documents, I’m going through them to get a fuller picture. Today, under the radar is EssilorLuxottica. What I found most interesting in their URD is the range of e-commerce ideas they use. I’ve grouped them all together in this article—as a resource to help improve the online presence of any e-shop selling eyewear.
In addition, the article includes:
a company profile
an explanation of why luxury groups tend to open their own production facilities, including eyewear
Read here.
