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Weekly Industry Report | Smart Glasses Divergence · CIOF 2026 · New Flip-Up Readers

1.Industry Macro & Market Data

H1 2026 shows solid growth for the eyewear industry:

According to the China Glasses Association, revenue and profit of large-scale eyewear enterprises both grew steadily in the first half of 2026. Export figures turned from decline to growth year-on-year, signaling recovering overseas demand. Industry analysts suggest that as consumer confidence gradually recovers in major global markets, export growth is likely to remain robust in the second half of the year.

Danyang eyewear cluster maintains strong momentum:

As China’s “Eyewear Capital”, Danyang’s above-scale eyewear companies achieved double-digit output growth in H1. On September 7, a large group of Danyang industry professionals traveled together by high-speed rail to Beijing for CIOF 2026, highlighting the sector’s vitality and collaborative market expansion. Danyang now hosts a complete industrial chain — from accessories, electroplating, and finished frames to packaging — occupying a pivotal position in both domestic and global eyewear supply systems.

National eye health policy to boost long-term demand:

Three central government departments recently issued the “Plan for Accelerating the Delivery of High-Quality and Efficient Eye Health Services (2026–2030)”, focusing on key demographics — children, adolescents, and the elderly. This policy roadmap is expected to continuously stimulate market demand for prescription eyewear and vision correction products over the next five years, particularly benefiting categories like reading glasses and functional lenses.

Smart glasses market sees short-term correction:

Online retail volume and value of smart glasses declined month-on-month in July, largely attributed to post-“618” digestion. Analysts view this as a temporary consolidation rather than a long-term downturn, with future product upgrades and use-case expansion still promising. Notably, the continued penetration of smart glasses may drive demand for complementary accessories — clip-on attachments could be a segment worth watching.

2.Smart Glasses: Segment Divergence & Capital Influx

The smart glasses space saw intense news flow this week, with sharp contrasts across segments.

Significant divergence within the market:

AR glasses stood out as the only growing segment, with online sales surging year-on-year. Audio glasses, however, are caught in a low-price race, while camera-equipped glasses experienced a steep drop — segment polarization is intensifying. Analysts point out that this divergence reflects consumers’ increasingly clear understanding of the core value proposition of smart glasses: AR products with independent display and interactive capabilities are building genuine user stickiness, while single-function categories struggle to sustain growth once the novelty fades.

Venture capital continues to flow into smart glasses:

LLVision announced on September 8 the closing of a RMB 300 million+ Series C+ round, with investors including Beijing-based Xianglong Group — which owns the well-known optical retail brand “Daming Glasses”. The two parties will collaborate on product experience, professional fitting, and after-sales services for smart eyewear. What makes this deal noteworthy is the deep integration of industrial capital with retail channels — a clear sign that smart glasses are moving from being perceived as “digital gadgets” to “professional eyewear”, with fitting and wearing comfort standards catching up to traditional glasses.

Cross-industry partnerships & channel innovation:

On September 4, Danyang government and Alibaba’s Qianwen signed a strategic agreement to cooperate on lens supply, prescription fitting, and supporting resources for Qianwen AI glasses. As China’s largest lens production base, Danyang’s involvement signals a deep integration of AI glasses supply chains with traditional eyewear manufacturing systems.

The country’s first AI glasses 4S flagship store opened in Dongguan, simultaneously launching the KRETA Poseidon series — navigation glasses designed specifically for visually impaired users. The product uses vibration and voice prompts to assist independent travel, showcasing the application of smart glasses in accessibility and social welfare.

Chinese players on the global stage:

RayNeo unveiled the RayNeo iO and RayNeo GT series at IFA Berlin, and has retained the No.1 spot in the global AR glasses market for five consecutive quarters. The RayNeo iO features a binocular full-color Micro-LED + optical waveguide solution, designed for lightweight all-day wear; the RayNeo GT targets immersive entertainment scenarios. This demonstrates that Chinese brands have moved from “followers” to “leaders” in the AR glasses space, now taking the lead in product definition and technology roadmaps.

HTC’s VIVE Eagle AI glasses received a facelift and expanded its market reach from Taiwan to the US and Europe, reflecting an accelerating evolution of the global smart glasses competitive landscape.

3.Trade Show & Brand Campaigns

CIOF 2026 opens in Beijing:

The 37th China International Optics Fair is being held from September 8 to 10 at China International Exhibition Center (Chaoyang Hall), gathering numerous domestic and international brands and buyers. This year’s exhibition spans over 50,000 square meters, attracting nearly 1,000 exhibitors from more than 20 countries and regions. Based on on-site feedback, functional lenses, lightweight frame materials, and smart glasses accessories emerged as the three hottest trends at this year’s fair.

Brand activations:

Wukong Glasses introduced the concept “Zero Pressure Summer” at CIOF 2026, launching two new series — “Extraordinary · S Series” and “Focus by Me · J Series” — targeting the youth “comfort + fashion” segment. The brand also announced plans to expand its DTC online channel investment, exploring a new retail model of “online traffic acquisition + offline professional fitting”.

President optical (the premium bespoke brand under Dr. Glasses), in partnership with Thélios, is hosting a BVLGARI eyewear pop-up experience space in Tianjin from September 4 to 20, strengthening its high-end consumer presence. This cross-category collaboration blends luxury design language with professional optometry services, offering a new experiential template for premium eyewear retail.

In addition, multiple lens manufacturers unveiled new functional lens products targeting digital eye strain, day-night adaptation, and other usage scenarios — a clear indication that consumer demand for visual health is evolving from “seeing clearly” to “seeing comfortably.”

4.Factory Direct · In-Stock Wholesale

Deep-Rooted in the Industry, Integrated Manufacturing & Trading

We are a factory-based eyewear manufacturer and exporter specializing in clip-ons, flip-ups, and optical frames, supplying Southeast Asian wholesalers directly. With full in-house control — from tooling and mold development, injection molding, metal stamping, and surface finishing to final assembly — we ensure consistent quality and reliable delivery.

Three Core Product Lines — Meeting Diverse Wholesale Needs

Clip-on: We offer a full range of polarized and photochromic clip-ons, compatible with various optical frame sizes, suitable for driving, outdoor activities, and office use. Given the intense sunlight in Southeast Asian markets, polarized clip-ons maintain consistently high reorder rates, making them one of the steadiest volume-driving categories for wholesale clients.

Flip-up: Our flip-up lineup is anchored by reading glasses, while also supporting plano (non-prescription) and multifunctional custom options. The flip mechanism has undergone tens of thousands of open-close durability tests for smooth, reliable operation. This season we are featuring a lightweight TR-90 series, significantly enhancing all-day wearing comfort — particularly well-suited for middle-aged and senior consumers.

Optical frames: Our collection covers full-rim, semi-rimless, and rimless styles, available in materials including metal and TR-90, among others. We stay current with international design trends, incorporating vintage, minimalist, and geometric elements into our frame silhouettes — balancing aesthetics with functionality to meet end-consumer demand for “fashion + vision correction.”

Zero-Minimum, Mixed-Batch Flexibility

We understand the need for small trial orders and fast turnover — we keep ample stock year-round across our three core categories, covering the most popular styles and prescription ranges, with no MOQ and full support for mixed-batch ordering across categories, so you can start easily and minimize inventory risk. Custom logo printing on frames or packaging (screen printing, laser engraving, and other techniques available) is also offered to help you build your own brand and establish differentiated competitiveness in regional markets.

Transparent Factory Verification

Our own production floor and showroom are open for live video tours, production line walk-throughs, and product testing clips — including frame fatigue tests, lens impact tests, hinge durability tests, and more. You can verify our capabilities and quality control without travelling, making cooperation simple and trustworthy. Our products meet export quality standards and have been consistently supplied to multiple Southeast Asian markets, earning strong trust from wholesale clients.

This Week’s New Arrival — Flip-Up Reading Glasses

Continuing our weekly new-item rollout, we present our latest flip-up readers. Precision-ground optics deliver clear, fatigue-free vision; the smooth and durable flip mechanism allows easy switching between near and far focus. Available in four classic frame colours — Black, Gunmetal, Gold, and Silver — lightweight and comfortable, these glasses directly address the daily needs of middle-aged and senior consumers, making them a steady high-volume category for the Southeast Asian retail market. This batch provides complete prescription coverage from +1.0D to +4.0D, accommodating the diverse needs of different customer segments.