Sun’s out: A growing list of our favourite independent sunglasses brands
IMAGE VIA @velvetcanyon/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY MAEVE KERR-CROWLEY AND FASHION JOURNAL
No boring shades here.
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.
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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.
Szade
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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.
Vehla
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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.
Lexxola
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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.
Aire
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If you know exactly what shape frames suit your face, you’ll have an easy time shopping Aire’s seven styles including round, cat eye, aviator, square, round, rectangle and wraparound. From clean classics to Y2K inspired shades designed in Australia, Aire’s great value unisex frames will elevate your look no matter the occasion.
St Agni
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Byron Bay label St Agni has long been known for its sleek, utilitarian approach to clothing, and its foray into eyewear is no different. Find ’90s and Y2K-inspired glasses, fitted with mineral lenses.
Le Specs
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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.
Poppy Lissiman
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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.
Velvet Canyon
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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.
Oscar and Frank
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Every pair of shades from Australian eyewear label Oscar and Frank is meticulously designed in-house using top quality Cellulose Acetate and sun lenses with 100% UVA protection. You’ll find plenty of chic cat eye shapes, wrap around styles and classic silhouettes to suit even the most hard-to-match face shapes.
Lu Goldie
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Inspired by vintage designs spanning the ’60s to the ’90s, Lu Goldie’s range of sunglasses offers retro silhouettes, dreamy hues and flattering frames.
Shevoke
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If you’re a fan of a ’90s slim frame, Shevoke has the all the options for you – sophisticated and sexy, as seen on all the fashion It Girls and Jenners. Founded by Queensland-born Lisa Hyde, Shevoke eyewear recently launched its handcrafted collection of eco-friendly eyewear that’s manufactured sustainably and ethically using a plant-based plastic that is durable, lightweight and hypoallergenic.
Local Supply
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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.
Deering
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Launched in 2024 by Erin Deering (of Triangl fame), Melbourne-based label Deering is rooted in joyful celebration of everyday dressing with a distinct Australian twang. The label’s mood-boosting eyewear ranges from Y2K-inspired floating lenses to sporty flat-top frames and oversized ’70s aviators that will add a touch of extra to any outfit.
Good Citizens
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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.
Raie
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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.
Luv Lou
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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.
Radio Eyewear
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Based on Wadawurrung and Bundjalung land, Radio 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. Radio Eyewear recently collaborated with Melbourne skateboard label Hoddle on a mini capsule collection called “A New Vision of Luxury” inspired by ’80s designer sports frames. Crafted from eco-friendly bio-acetate, each pair is biodegradable and made from renewable sources.
Epøkhe
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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.
Childe
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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.
Head here for everything you need to know about protecting your eyes from the sun.
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