Our favourite independent Australian sunglasses brands
IMAGE VIA @EPOKHE/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY MAEVE KERR-CROWLEY AND FASHION JOURNAL
Shades on.
The key to a great look is often in the accessories. Whether you’re scooping up a bag as you leave the house or carefully layering the perfect jewellery, the devil really is in the details. In Australia, where the weather is unpredictable and the UV levels are brutal, having a pair of sunglasses on hand is pretty vital.
Nobody wants to get caught out and about, squinting at the glare and wishing they’d remembered to throw a pair in their bag. Luckily, there are plenty of local labels (and a few from across the ditch) making amazing eyewear that combines function and style, so there’s bound to be something out there to perfectly suit your needs.
For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.
Cat-eye, aviator, wayfarer – if you still haven’t found the right shape for your face, now’s the time. Below is an ever-growing list of some of our favourite local eyewear labels.
Pared Eyewear
View this post on Instagram
Known for its collaborations with Bec + Bridge, Jordan Simek and How Two Live, Pared Eyewear has cemented itself as a leading Australian eyewear designer. As the name suggests, the brand’s ethos is founded on sculpted, refined and quality product. Its range offers sturdy acetate frames that can only be described as modern classics with a twist.
Luv Lou
View this post on Instagram
If eyes are the window to the soul, then Luv Lou is the classic French-girl eyewear that frames them. Launched in 2018 by sisters Hayley and Jade Hall, Luv Lou creates sustainable sunglasses with that unique handmade touch. Specialising in timeless frames like the cat-eye beloved by old Hollywood women, Luv Lou sunglasses are made for that main character moment.
Zeia
View this post on Instagram
Zeia is the unisex sunglasses brand making budget-friendly frames. Zeia offers everything from chunky oversized glasses for a day in the desert to smaller, chic sunglasses for those inner-city afternoons.
Local Supply
View this post on Instagram
Local Supply takes an appealingly practical approach to eyewear, branding its products not as ‘fashion’ but as an essential supply. Using plant-based materials and zero-waste production, the label creates a range of different silhouettes in one to five colourways. The focus is on quality designs that will last you for years and won’t cost an arm or a leg. An ongoing relationship with local charities also means that for every pair of sunglasses purchased, a meal is donated to Indigenous and asylum seeker communities in Sydney.
Szade
View this post on Instagram
Reduce, reuse, recycle with Szade, a Melbourne-based label creating recycled sunglasses. By collecting old, discarded or broken sunglasses and melting them down to be reformed into something new, the brand aims to cut down on waste and create a loop of creative, sustainable design. The range includes a wide variety of silhouettes, styles and colours so that anyone can find a pair of recycled sunnies to suit their aesthetic.
Vieux
View this post on Instagram
Creating eyewear that pays homage to the past while embracing contemporary design techniques, all Vieux sunglasses are meticulously crafted using robust yet lightweight materials to ensure lasting, collectable quality.
Vehla
View this post on Instagram
Luxury eyewear brand Vehla was launched in Sydney back in 2019, aiming to create quality, functional accessories that didn’t compromise on style. Its most popular metal and acetate frames have sold out time and time again, gaining a loyal following both locally and overseas. You’ll find a mixture of vintage-inspired and modern styles in hard-to-find colourways, all chosen to fill gaps in the market.
Le Specs
View this post on Instagram
Le Specs is one of the most iconic eyewear labels in the business, having operated since 1979. Its huge range of men’s and women’s sunglasses covers just about every style or silhouette you can imagine and has been worn by an impressive number of celebrities and influencers worldwide.
Velvet Canyon
View this post on Instagram
Velvet Canyon is a delightfully hazy combination of the past and the present, taking heavy inspiration from vintage style but still keeping things fresh and modern. Its quality acetate frames come in a palette made up largely of neutrals, with a mix of solid colours, classic tortoiseshell designs and fun yet understated prints. Every pair is also great for UV protection and comes packed in a biodegradable vegan leather pouch.
Raie
View this post on Instagram
Sunglasses aren’t just an accessory, they also serve a very important purpose in protecting our eyes from Australia’s harsh UV levels. Raie’s sustainably designed eyewear and shatter-resistant lenses all provide 100 per cent UV protection for “health-conscious leisure seekers”. To encourage more conscious spending and creative styling, the range is full of classic tones and colourways that can easily transition from season to season and year to year.
Handsom
View this post on Instagram
Melbourne-based label Handsom is probably best known for its men’s and women’s clothing, but the brand also offers a curated range of eyewear. Just like its clothing collections, these sunglasses are all about clean design, modern functionality and “unpretentious fashion”. Each pair takes a beloved silhouette and adds unique design details, making them an easy statement piece you can wear every day.
Lexxola
View this post on Instagram
Lexxola is an effortlessly cool eyewear label specialising in unisex designs that you’ll want to wear every day. Its modern silhouettes, coloured lenses and high-quality frames are made to last and designed to instil confidence in the wearer. The brand is also focused on sustainable production through low-waste design, energy-efficient warehouses and regular contributions to sustainably-minded non-profit organisations.
Sunday Somewhere
View this post on Instagram
On top of being an everyday essential, sunglasses are intrinsically linked to days at the beach and sun-soaked holidays. Sunday Somewhere is all about romanticising that love of travel and feeling of wanderlust, and makes eyewear to take along with you. Find chunky acetate sunnies or pastel-coloured wireframes in a variety of silhouettes to suit your beach day looks.
Childe
View this post on Instagram
Inspired by his experiences living abroad in Portugal, Childe eyewear was founded in 2018 by designer Jon Laurenson. Now based in Byron Bay, Childe’s Australian-designed, Italian-made sunglasses are crafted from sustainable, plant-based materials. Available in a wide range of flattering shapes and tints, the bio-acetate frames will protect your peepers in style.
Epøkhe
View this post on Instagram
Founded by a filmmaker and two professional surfers, Epøkhe is both an eyewear label and a platform for surfing, design, art and film. With a focus on ethical production, interesting design and quality materials, Epøkhe make shades you’ll want to wear inside. In a cool, mysterious way, of course.
AM Eyewear
View this post on Instagram
Founded in 2003 by designer Simon Kumar Ponnusammy, AM Eyewear has established itself as a local favourite for top-quality shades. Sustainably made using plant-based acetate, the cellulose frames are ideal if you’re looking for statement sunglasses (like this mint-coloured pair).
Gesture Eyewear
View this post on Instagram
Inspired by the Byron Bay skate, surf and music communities he grew up in, Gesture Eyewear designer Rory Twomey wanted to create a sunglasses range that embodied his unique beach-meets-streets aesthetic. Describing the range as ‘accessible luxury’, Rory makes quality eyewear in retro gradients of blue, yellow and sunset orange.
Poppy Lissiman
View this post on Instagram
Poppy Lissiman’s eponymous Australian label has been the face of eye-catching, fun fashion since 2008, producing bags, sunglasses and a host of other accessories. Its eyewear range features a huge variety of styles and silhouettes, offering everything from chunky acetate frames in bold colours and patterns to delicate floating lenses in intricate shapes.
Ochre Lane
View this post on Instagram
Influenced by Australian landscapes, Ochre Lane’s feminine designs are tinted with earth tones like caramel, taupe and sage. The vintage-inspired collection of cat-eye and square frames are a nod to famous leading ladies of the ’60s and ’70s. Ideal for a top-down Sunday morning convertible ride (obviously).
Isle of Eden
View this post on Instagram
Sustainable New Zealand-based brand Isle of Eden seeks to stand out in a ‘vast sea of sameness’. Its beautiful angular frames – available in fun colours like navy blue, green and champagne – are crafted from earth-friendly, biodegradable and often recycled materials.
Good Citizens
View this post on Instagram
Worried about the amount of plastic piling up in the world (me too), a dad and his two sons, Harry and Archie, decided to make a pair of sunglasses from disposable water bottles. While it wasn’t as easy as it sounds, the trio got there in the end – and the journey was worth it. Winner of the Design Files’ Sustainable Design Initiative in 2020, Good Citizens is beloved for its change-making modular sunglasses.
Rowland Vision
View this post on Instagram
What started as a creative project taking form during the peak of the pandemic, Rowland Vision has since made its mark on Gen Z fashion lovers nationally. Defined by a fusion of iconic Y2K shapes and contemporary prints, the Blak-owned label is putting a playful spin on old classics – think The Matrix meets Charlie’s Angels.
Radio Eyewear
View this post on Instagram
Based on Wadawurrung and Bundjalung land, Radio Eyewear is an eyewear label inspired by a shared love of live music. With names like ‘The Fuzz’, ‘The Blues’ and ‘The Pearla’, Radio shades go hard while still being soft to the planet. Crafted from eco-friendly bio-acetate, each pair is biodegradable and made from renewable sources.
Síto Shades
View this post on Instagram
Crafted in dynamic shades of neon green, bright orange and hot pink, Síto Shades are made for celebrating sun-drenched days by the water. Made from renewable acetate, each pair features a high-quality CR39-lens and a signature Síto deep-etch logo. With most styles coming in under $100, Síto Shades are ideal for a seasonal wardrobe pick-me-up.
Lu Goldie
View this post on Instagram
Inspired by vintage designs spanning the ’60s to the ’90s, Lu Goldie’s range of sunglasses offers retro silhouettes, dreamy hues and flattering frames.
Head here for everything you need to know about protecting your eyes from the sun.
Liked this? You’ll love these...
