Bangkok--7 Dec--Spark Communications
More eyewear brands to tailor frames for Asians that ensure optimal fit, comfort and original style
Do you find designer eyewear never quite fits snugly and comfortably, especially those trendy acetate frames? They either slip down your nose or press against your cheekbones, leaving unsightly marks on your face. Unlike metal frames that come with nose pads, most acetate frames in the market today are not suitable for Asians as they are designed for Caucasian faces.
However, bucking the trend in a bid to cater to consumers in one of the fastest growing regions in the world — Asia — global leader in design, production, distribution and sale of fashion, luxury and sports eyewear Luxottica Group is progressively rolling out eyewear collections with acetate frames that are tailored to Asian faces.
Dubbed Asian-fit, these frames feature an array of technical modifications that enhance fit and comfort but maintain the integrity of the original design and style.
The framework: made for Asians
Raising the bar in Asian-fit design, Luxottica has not only modified the nose pads but also other parts of the frames to better accommodate the unique Asian facial characteristics.
Before going into production, the designers at Luxottica Group’s design studios will review every model to determine the specific adjustments that need to be made, thus ensuring that they not only properly fit Asian faces but also maintain the characteristics of the original style.
Compared to models developed for Caucasian faces, its Asian-fit versions boast several benefits:
- Better comfort on the ears and better fit for curvier heads, thanks to specific adjustments made to the length and curvature of the temples
- Improved fit on shallower nose bridges; wearers are also able to wear their glasses comfortably for longer hours thanks to the curved nose pads
- An enhanced fit for flatter faces, achieved by reducing the frame’s curvature
- Angle adjustments made to the inclination of the frame to ensure that the eyewear does not press against prominent cheekbones and leave marks.
“The technical tweaks may be subtle but they go a long way in providing a better and more comfortable fit for our Asian wearers,” said Mr Claudio Francavilla, Luxottica Group’s Emerging Markets Product Director. “At Luxottica Group, we believe eyewear is about style, fit and comfort and to deliver on these aspects, we cannot adopt a one-size-fits-all approach. Hence, we have tailored our eyewear collections to accommodate the unique facial features of our Asian consumers so that they can enjoy optimal fit and comfort without compromising on style and quality.”
Greater collections that truly fit Asian faces
The technical tweaks applied to Luxottica Group’s eyewear collections are supported by ongoing research and development at its design studios in Japan and China that are wholly dedicated to the design and production of Asian-fit frames as well as exclusive collections for the region.
“We have made a strategic decision to invest in the Asian-fit category. The establishment of our design studios in China and Japan demonstrates our commitment to Asian design for our consumers,” said Mr Francavilla.
Presently, the brands under Luxottica Group’s portfolio that offer Asian-fitting versions include those from its house brands — Ray-Ban and Vogue Eyewear — as well its licensed partners like Prada, Miu Miu, Dolce & Gabbana, Coach and Burberry.
“We have progressively expanded the number of Asian-fit versions for these brands. With our design hubs in Japan and China, we are poised to deliver Asian-fit collections for all our eyewear brands that are sold in Asia. Our aim is to ensure that all our eyewear collections sold in Asia will fit our consumers in this region. This way, they can be assured of finding frames from their favourite brands that fit properly and comfortably,” added Mr Francavilla.