Top ten Eyewear Brands to See at Eyewear Design Week 2025
From March 13 to 15, New York City transforms into the ultimate optical arena as Eyewear Design Week brings together a re-imagined show experience across multiple showrooms. With events like LOFT, EYEcons, and Thelios Showroom, this citywide gathering offers unparalleled opportunities for optical retailers to explore the finest independent eyewear. To help you navigate the scene, we’ve curated a Top 10 Shortlist of must-see brands, ensuring you uncover the most exciting and innovative eyewear collections. Let us guide you to the hidden gems that will define the future of eyewear.
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Selima Optique
Eyecon Show
A name synonymous with bold sophistication, Selima Optique has been redefining eyewear luxury for decades. Rooted in Parisian design with a New York edge, the brand blends vintage inspirations with modern creativity, resulting in eyewear that exudes confidence and personality.
At Eyewear Design Week, Selima Optique unveils its latest collection, staying true to its signature mix of playful yet refined aesthetics. Expect a showcase of frames crafted with intricate detailing, luxurious materials, and an unmistakable sense of individuality. Whether it’s a dramatic cat-eye, a sleek geometric silhouette, or a reinvented classic, Selima Optique delivers eyewear that transcends trends and makes a lasting statement.
Step into a world of Parisian chic and discover the latest designs from Selima Optique at the Eyecon Show—where style meets timeless elegance.
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L.A. Eyeworks
LOFT Industrial
For over four decades, L.A. Eyeworks has been a beacon of originality, crafting bold and expressive eyewear that challenges conventional design. Their frames celebrate individuality, offering a playground of color, form, and material that speaks to those who see eyewear as an extension of personal style.
At Eyewear Design Week, L.A. Eyeworks presents a feast of optical offerings with its Spring/Summer 2025 collection, unveiling thirteen new ophthalmic designs and five fresh sunglass styles. The collection embraces familiar silhouettes refined to their essence, brought to life through vibrant colors, dynamic patterns, and sculptural volumes. Artful titanium treatments introduce fluid shapes and light-reflecting surfaces, while acetate frames blend graphic fronts with delicate profiles, achieving a refined yet daring aesthetic.
As a special touch, L.A. Eyeworks continues its artist-designed lens cleaning cloth series, a tradition since 2009. This year features contributions from renowned Los Angeles-based artists, offering an extra layer of creativity to complement their striking frame designs.
Discover their latest creations at LOFT Industrial and experience the artistry behind every pair.
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Kirk & Kirk
LOFT Industrial
With a heritage rooted in craftsmanship and innovation, Kirk & Kirk continues to push the boundaries. Known for their bold color palettes and lightweight designs, they offer frames that blend artistic expression with comfort, making a statement without compromising wearability.
At Eyewear Design Week, Kirk & Kirk introduces two dynamic new shapes to both their Kaleidoscope and Contour collections.
The Joel frame delivers a bold, structured silhouette, while Ruth introduces soft, flowing curves with a feminine edge. Crafted from their signature K-Lite™ material, these frames achieve a striking visual presence while remaining incredibly lightweight.
The Contour Collection expands with Thomas, a commanding frame that balances presence with subtle color tones, and Yvonne, a design that plays with light and shadow through faceted angles and a matte front.
More than just color, Kirk & Kirk’s K-Lite™ material ensures a distinctive finish that sets them apart from traditional acetate. “Working in K-Lite is like sculpting for me,” says Creative Director Karen Kirk, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to artistry. Experience their latest innovations firsthand at LOFT Industrial and explore eyewear that redefines individuality.
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Barton Perreira
Thelios Showroom
With an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship, Barton Perreira has established itself as a leader in luxury eyewear. Founded by industry veterans, the brand is synonymous with precision, timeless elegance, and meticulous attention to detail, resulting in frames that embody quiet sophistication and enduring style.
During Eyewear Design Week, Barton Perreira presents its latest collection, which continues to redefine classic silhouettes through exquisite materials, hand-finished detailing, and innovative craftsmanship.
With a focus on understated luxury, their designs offer a harmonious blend of vintage inspiration and modern refinement, appealing to those who appreciate both artistry and wearability.
On March 13th, the brand will host a special evening celebrating its collaboration with artist Kerin Rose. Guests will enjoy curated cocktails, bites, and live music, along with an exclusive preview of the limited-edition Patty Perreira x Kerin Rose collection. A portion of each sale will support the Lower East Side Girls Club.
Experience the epitome of elegance and precision by exploring Barton Perreira’s latest collection at the Thelios Showroom event, where craftsmanship meets contemporary luxury.
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PRESS Eyewear
LOFT Industrial
PRESS Eyewear brings an elevated approach to independent eyewear design with a blend of bold aesthetics with meticulous detailing, setting a new benchmark of expert craftsmanship in high-end eyewear.
This season, PRESS Eyewear unveils groundbreaking techniques, including the exclusive North American launch of PRESS Couture. The collection features frames sculpted from Indian water buffalo horn and exotic woods, hand-finished over hundreds of hours by master artisans in Germany. Each pair showcases never-before-seen laminations and horn colorations, transforming eyewear into wearable art.
Additionally, PRESS introduces its marble plating technique in limited edition titanium pieces, available in black marble with rose gold accents and white marble with ruthenium. Each frame is individually numbered and presented in a specially designed package.
With a commitment to merging imagination, craft, and sculpture, PRESS Eyewear continues to redefine independent luxury eyewear. Visit their showcase at LOFT Industrial to experience the artistry and exclusivity of their latest designs.
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FACE A FACE
LOFT Industrial
With an artistic spirit and a passion for innovation, FACE A FACE embraces the power of color as a bold form of expression. The French brand is renowned for pushing creative boundaries, transforming eyewear into a medium that captures personality, emotion, and artistry.
At Eyewear Design Week, FACE A FACE unveils a groundbreaking collection that redefines color through an experimental and expressive lens, pushing the boundaries of artistic eyewear design.
Their latest frames celebrate sculpted hues, daring contrasts, and unexpected fusions that challenge conventional aesthetics, blending architecture, movement, and vibrant energy into each creation.
This collection invites wearers to reinvent themselves, using color as a canvas for individuality and self-expression.
With its vibrant aesthetic and fearless creativity, FACE A FACE continues to set new standards in independent eyewear. Discover their latest collection at LOFT Industrial and experience eyewear that turns color into magic.
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VAVA Eyewear
LOFT Factory
With an avant-garde approach to eyewear, VAVA challenges convention with its bold use of color, shape, and futuristic design. Their collections celebrate radical expression, inspired by a fusion of art, technology, and architectural precision.
At Eyewear Design Week, VAVA unveils a three-part Spring/Summer collection, each with a distinct color philosophy.
The First Block bursts with bold red, yellow, and green, energizing futuristic frames like the WL0079. The Second Block stays true to VAVA’s black-and-white DNA, elevating models like the BL0050, inspired by ‘80s futurism. The Third Block embraces minimalism with black, matte black, and crystal blue matte, refining VAVA’s cutting-edge aesthetic into a sleek, wearable statement.
Blurring the boundaries between past and future, VAVA continues to push the evolution of eyewear design. Discover their boundary-pushing collection at LOFT Factory and explore the future of independent eyewear.
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TAG Heuer
Thelios Showroom
A name synonymous with precision engineering and cutting-edge design, TAG Heuer extends its legacy of innovation into the world of high-performance eyewear. Inspired by the same principles that drive their iconic timepieces, TAG Heuer’s frames blend technical mastery with a sleek, aerodynamic aesthetic.
At Eyewear Design Week, TAG Heuer showcases a new collection that pushes the boundaries of sports-luxury eyewear.
Crafted with lightweight yet durable materials, including titanium and carbon fiber, these frames offer a seamless fusion of strength, comfort, and sophistication.
Advanced lens technology ensures optimal clarity and protection, making these frames the perfect companion for those who demand both style and performance in their eyewear.
Combining precision craftsmanship with dynamic design, TAG Heuer continues to redefine the limits of what eyewear can achieve. Explore their latest collection at Thelios and experience the fusion of innovation and luxury.
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TAVAT
LOFT Industrial
Driven by technical excellence and a passion for craftsmanship, TAVAT continues to redefine modern eyewear with its innovative approach to materials and construction. Based in the foothills of the Dolomites, this independent, family-owned brand specializes in meticulously engineered frames that blend form, function, and artistry.
At Eyewear Design Week, TAVAT unveils a groundbreaking concept featuring semi-rimless designs that reimagine their iconic SoupCan style. This collection introduces a striking metal-on-metal aesthetic, integrating aluminum details to create a dynamic contrast of textures.
Their latest collection seamlessly balances minimalist sophistication with bold functionality, resulting in eyewear that is both lightweight and structurally refined to the extend of what eyewear can achieve.
With an unwavering commitment to pushing the limits of eyewear innovation, TAVAT delivers frames that embody depth, design, and craftsmanship. Explore their latest collection at LOFT Industrial and experience the evolution of technical eyewear.
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Ahlem Eyewear
EYEcon Show
With a distinct Parisian sensibility and a commitment to artisanal craftsmanship, AHLEM Eyewear has carved a unique space in the world of independent eyewear. Founded by Ahlem Manai-Platt, the brand is celebrated for its minimalist yet avant-garde approach, blending vintage influences with contemporary aesthetics.
At Eyewear Design Week, AHLEM Eyewear unveils its latest collection, where timeless design harmonizes with exceptional materials to create eyewear that is both striking and enduring.
With its signature fusion of Parisian artistry and contemporary vision, AHLEM continues to redefine modern eyewear, offering frames that transcend trends and become lifelong pieces.
New York, get ready! Eyewear Design Week 2025 is about to set the city buzzing with cutting-edge independent eyewear. Innovation, craftsmanship, and bold design will take the spotlight, and trust us—there’s no shortage of must-see frames. Our Top 10 Must-See Brands? Just a taste of the incredible eyewear waiting to be discovered.
Now, while TEF Magazine won’t be roaming the streets this time (baby duties call!), we’re still cheering on the indie eyewear scene from afar. Wishing everyone an inspiring and unforgettable Eyewear Design Week 2025!
And remember—TEF LOVES YOU.
– Maarten Weidema
