Ask HN: Recommend sunglasses made in the west and independent of Luxotica

44 pointslighttower4y ago35 comments

Luxotica is a monopoly [0] that uses its market power to control the market price and force suppliers and other manufactuerers to joining their empire. For example Oakley was forced to sell-out to Luxotica when they were shutout out of retail outlets in a time before internet allowed them to go direct to consumer [1].

Question is what multi-sport sunglasses do you use that aren't Luxotica or made in Asia?

[0] https://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-glasses-lenscrafters-luxottica-monopoly-20190305-story.html

[1] https://www.oakleyforum.com/guides/oakley-luxottica-sunglasses-history/

Ask HN: Recommend sunglasses made in the west and independent of Luxotica

44 pointslighttower4y ago35 comments

Question is what multi-sport sunglasses do you use that aren't Luxotica or made in Asia?

[0] https://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-glasses-lenscrafters-luxottica-monopoly-20190305-story.html

[1] https://www.oakleyforum.com/guides/oakley-luxottica-sunglasses-history/

35 comments

35 comments · 21 top-level

cratermoon4y ago· 4 in thread

What's wrong with 'made in Asia'?

cauliflower27184y ago

Seconding this question.

I have had great experiences getting glasses from Jins, which has locations in the US and in Asia.

johnwalkr4y ago

I don’t know about Jins, but I’ve owners many paid of of Zoff (the other big Japanese maker) and they’ve all been made in Japan or Korea. There’s also a ton of small brands in Japan still. And it’s kind of interesting that virtually all Japanese eyeglasses are made in one city (Sabae).

erklik4y ago

Likely to be a case of ethical concerns. It's too often that these companies are using un-ethical labor sourcing in third-world countries, and I am guessing OP isn't interested in supporting them.

cratermoon4y ago

Have you looked into labor conditions in the US recently?

nextos4y ago· 4 in thread

Maui Jim maybe. Or Randolph Engineering.

tssva4y ago

Maui Jim manufacturers their glasses in Italy and Japan so not guaranteed to have a western made pair.

thrownintospace4y ago

Try www.zerouv.com, the quality is good-ok.

They are cheap so its no sweat of you lose or break a pair.

dxf4y ago

According to their website, Maui Jim frames and lenses are manufactured in either Italy or Japan.

I own both Maui Jim and Randolph Engineering sunglasses and I would not hesitate to buy either again, though they are pricy.

QuizzicalCarbon4y ago

I’m a fan of Maui Jim for their variety of frames and lenses, build quality, and especially their repair service. Their high price is worth it for the repair service alone. I recommend them.

greazy4y ago· 2 in thread

I really like knockaround for its affordability.

https://knockaround.com/

ev14y ago

Wow, this is one of the worst sites I've ever seen.

I was wondering why it was taking several minutes to load on a fast mobile connection: it contacts hundreds of subdomains, sends identifying data and drops marketing cookies everywhere. A single visit dropped over a hundred cookies. It's not even just analytics, it's full blown in your face crap.

It's loading several dozen chains of scripts that load more scripts. The screen is packed full of popups, modals, endless spam. Moving your mouse anywhere causes more modals to appear. Moving your mouse toward the top of the screen pops up fullscreen ads telling you to STOP, COME BACK!!

Half of the bottom is covered in product ads and hover buttons.

https://i.imgur.com/PLVaOLf.png

Holy shit.

tcbasche4y ago

The irony of having to accept cookies and click on “continue in browser” when going to that imgur link on mobile...

notjulianjaynes4y ago· 2 in thread

Former Sunglass Hut employee. Maui Jims and Oakleys were, at the time, non-Luxottica brands. I told customers that Maui Jims were very high quality but I have no clue if this is true. They were exempt from my 50% employee discount though.

gnabgib4y ago

Both Sunglass Hut and Oakley are now owned by Luxottica, but according to wikipedia [0] (and a support question[1]), Maui Jim is indeed still independent.

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maui_Jim [1]: https://support.mauijim.com/hc/en-us/articles/360019017133-D...

joezydeco4y ago

My wife has a pair of Maui Jim's that have lasted her a decade. They're solidly built.

NonEUCitizen4y ago· 2 in thread

Why does it have to be made in the west? Imagine insisting on CPUs fabricated in the west...

eurasiantiger4y ago

Because it does not feel good to give your money to people who use that money for oppression and genocide.

tssva4y ago

Then specific countries should have been specified. Many/Most Asian countries don't do so and many Western countries do.

ulchabhanrua4y ago

Ombraz are non-luxotica, multi-sport, and check off some sustainability boxes, which may counter your "made in Asia" issue. https://ombraz.com/

I've been a big fan of Randolf Engineering glasses but they are costly. I wouldn't call them multi-sport, but it depends on what you're doing. https://www.randolphusa.com/

utucuro4y ago

Lunor A5 [1], handmade glasses from Germany. They also have clip-on attachments [2] for a bunch of their other glasses. The classic version was worn by Steve Jobs; having worn the same frame with different lens shape, I can only recommend the brand, it was the most comfortable pair of glasses I used in my life so far (not wearing glasses daily anymore due to reduced myopia & fogging from masks) Lunor is, as far as I can tell, not part of Luxotica or LVMH. [1] https://lunor.com/en/product-category/a5-sun-en/ [2] https://lunor.com/en/product-category/clip-on-en/

the__alchemist4y ago

https://www.pitviper.com

https://heatwavevisual.com/collections/sunglasses

Pit Viper also is the only company whose marketing emails I read.

gnicholas4y ago

Check out Bureo, [1] which is partnered with Costa to make sunglasses out of up-cycled fishing nets. I don't know where they're manufactured, but I believe the fishing nets come from Chile.

I personally like my Maui Jims, which have some bits from Italy and some from elsewhere. They have a great repair policy that lets you get spare parts and fixes many years later, which is pretty unique.

1: https://www.costadelmar.com/en-us/inside-costa/protect/untan...

hprotagonist4y ago

Randolph: https://www.randolphusa.com/collections/aviator-best-sellers

Rudy Project: https://www.rudyproject.com/ww/en/

happy_path4y ago

Don't know if Luxotica is among the makers of these two online shops, but the glasses are really cheap:

- https://www.polette.com/en

- https://www.zennioptical.com/

jet_329514y ago

My old Bollé sunglasses are very comfortable and protective, if tatty. Not owned by Luxottica: agreed, near-monopoly

sathomasga4y ago

[Roka](https://www.roka.com)

secrecymatrix4y ago

Silhouette (both sunglasses and frames for prescription lenses, made in Austria) https://www.silhouette.com/us/us/sunglasses

xenocyon4y ago

Shuron frames are made in the USA, have an iconic style, and in my experience have been more durable than any other frame I've had. https://shop.shuron.com/

OkayPhysicist4y ago

American Optical is pretty good

bbellini4y ago

I've had a pair of Electric Sunglasses for nearly 6 years and would recommend them. Made in Italy.

https://www.electriccalifornia.com/

caterama4y ago

Zeal Optics based in Colorado: https://www.zealoptics.com

8jef4y ago

Moscot glasses, NYC, family owned. https://moscot.com/

mosermint4y ago

AO has classic styles and is actually made in usa and not just a usa brand.

alexaholic4y ago

Polaroid

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

35 comments

35 comments · 21 top-level

cratermoon4y ago· 4 in thread

What's wrong with 'made in Asia'?

cauliflower27184y ago

Seconding this question.

I have had great experiences getting glasses from Jins, which has locations in the US and in Asia.

johnwalkr4y ago

erklik4y ago

Likely to be a case of ethical concerns. It's too often that these companies are using un-ethical labor sourcing in third-world countries, and I am guessing OP isn't interested in supporting them.

cratermoon4y ago

Have you looked into labor conditions in the US recently?

nextos4y ago· 4 in thread

Maui Jim maybe. Or Randolph Engineering.

tssva4y ago

Maui Jim manufacturers their glasses in Italy and Japan so not guaranteed to have a western made pair.

thrownintospace4y ago

Try www.zerouv.com, the quality is good-ok.

They are cheap so its no sweat of you lose or break a pair.

dxf4y ago

According to their website, Maui Jim frames and lenses are manufactured in either Italy or Japan.

I own both Maui Jim and Randolph Engineering sunglasses and I would not hesitate to buy either again, though they are pricy.

QuizzicalCarbon4y ago

I’m a fan of Maui Jim for their variety of frames and lenses, build quality, and especially their repair service. Their high price is worth it for the repair service alone. I recommend them.

greazy4y ago· 2 in thread

I really like knockaround for its affordability.

https://knockaround.com/

ev14y ago

Wow, this is one of the worst sites I've ever seen.

Half of the bottom is covered in product ads and hover buttons.

https://i.imgur.com/PLVaOLf.png

Holy shit.

tcbasche4y ago

The irony of having to accept cookies and click on “continue in browser” when going to that imgur link on mobile...

notjulianjaynes4y ago· 2 in thread

gnabgib4y ago

Both Sunglass Hut and Oakley are now owned by Luxottica, but according to wikipedia [0] (and a support question[1]), Maui Jim is indeed still independent.

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maui_Jim [1]: https://support.mauijim.com/hc/en-us/articles/360019017133-D...

joezydeco4y ago

My wife has a pair of Maui Jim's that have lasted her a decade. They're solidly built.

NonEUCitizen4y ago· 2 in thread

Why does it have to be made in the west? Imagine insisting on CPUs fabricated in the west...

eurasiantiger4y ago

Because it does not feel good to give your money to people who use that money for oppression and genocide.

tssva4y ago

Then specific countries should have been specified. Many/Most Asian countries don't do so and many Western countries do.

ulchabhanrua4y ago

Ombraz are non-luxotica, multi-sport, and check off some sustainability boxes, which may counter your "made in Asia" issue. https://ombraz.com/

I've been a big fan of Randolf Engineering glasses but they are costly. I wouldn't call them multi-sport, but it depends on what you're doing. https://www.randolphusa.com/

utucuro4y ago

the__alchemist4y ago

https://www.pitviper.com

https://heatwavevisual.com/collections/sunglasses

Pit Viper also is the only company whose marketing emails I read.

gnicholas4y ago

Check out Bureo, [1] which is partnered with Costa to make sunglasses out of up-cycled fishing nets. I don't know where they're manufactured, but I believe the fishing nets come from Chile.

1: https://www.costadelmar.com/en-us/inside-costa/protect/untan...

hprotagonist4y ago

Randolph: https://www.randolphusa.com/collections/aviator-best-sellers

Rudy Project: https://www.rudyproject.com/ww/en/

happy_path4y ago

Don't know if Luxotica is among the makers of these two online shops, but the glasses are really cheap:

- https://www.polette.com/en

- https://www.zennioptical.com/

jet_329514y ago

My old Bollé sunglasses are very comfortable and protective, if tatty. Not owned by Luxottica: agreed, near-monopoly

sathomasga4y ago

[Roka](https://www.roka.com)

secrecymatrix4y ago

Silhouette (both sunglasses and frames for prescription lenses, made in Austria) https://www.silhouette.com/us/us/sunglasses

xenocyon4y ago

Shuron frames are made in the USA, have an iconic style, and in my experience have been more durable than any other frame I've had. https://shop.shuron.com/

OkayPhysicist4y ago

American Optical is pretty good

bbellini4y ago

I've had a pair of Electric Sunglasses for nearly 6 years and would recommend them. Made in Italy.

https://www.electriccalifornia.com/

caterama4y ago

Zeal Optics based in Colorado: https://www.zealoptics.com

8jef4y ago

Moscot glasses, NYC, family owned. https://moscot.com/

mosermint4y ago

AO has classic styles and is actually made in usa and not just a usa brand.

alexaholic4y ago

Polaroid

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse