By Mitch Ric
Some people wear glasses and shades for eye protection, and others for style. Recent data from Research and Markets revealed that the global eyewear market is set to have a compound annual growth rate of 4.95% during 2023-2028. This market growth is fueled by the growing demand for corrective and prescription-based eyewear and changing style preferences among consumers. At the same time, e-commerce and online advertising offer customers easy access.
When we think about eyewear, the music industry may not be the first to come to mind. However, the two industries are connected in more ways than you think — especially with the rise of technological advancements. Below, we’ll look at some of the ways the eyewear and music industries intersect:
Style influences from musicians
One of the most straightforward ways in which music and eyewear interact is through style influences from well-known music artists. Like social media influencers, the eyewear that we see being worn by beloved artists on and off the stage can influence the eyewear we want to wear.
However, one artist takes this to the next level. Throughout his illustrious career, Sir Elton John is known not only for his prolific discography but also for his love for stylish and outrageous eyewear. When you look through Elton John’s most iconic performances — including his headlining set during this year’s Glastonbury Festival — you will surely to spot his evolving taste for bold, edgy, and wacky eyewear. Today, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter is known for his eclectic taste in spectacles as much as his timeless music.
Music and smart glasses
Today, wearable technology is everywhere — from smartwatches to smart glasses. One of the prominent features introduced in smart glasses throughout their evolution has been audio. Most smart glasses today have built-in mics or speakers so wearers can interact with them on top of getting eye protection.
The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have built-in discreet open-ear speakers, allowing wearers to not only make and answer phone calls hands-free, but enjoy rich audio quality without needing to put earphones or headphones on, and without whipping out their smartphone to pause, play, or skip a song. Another key functionality of the Ray-Ban Meta is its livestreaming feature, which can make way for immersive concert and music gig experiences where wearers can share live content from a first-person perspective.
Artist x eyewear collabs
Like athletes and actors, musicians are no strangers to fashion collaborations — including with eyewear brands and designers. This is a two-way partnership that benefits both the eyewear brand and the artist and often highlights the artist’s style of music or personal fashion style.
Earlier this year, Grammy-winning Nigerian rapper Burna Boy announced his first designer collab through limited-edition Jean Paul Gaultier sunglasses. The eyewear collaboration is a nod to the rapper’s latest album, Love, Damini, with heart-shaped accents, red lenses, and stylish oval-shaped frames — available in four colors. Aside from celebrating the artist’s latest work, the collaboration is also a throwback to the eyewear brand’s archival styles from the 1990s.
Novelty products
Finally, on the other end of artist and eyewear collaborations are niche, novelty products. As sustainability and eco-consciousness becomes a popular theme across brands and designers, for example, many eyewear companies have dipped into the trend by using biodegradable or recycled materials for their products. This includes eyewear made from old CDs, for example.
Recently, another novelty product spotted on the internet is Vinylize’s recycled vinyl glasses. This is exactly what it sounds like. The Hungarian-American designer used LPs from his father’s collection of old vinyl records to make limited-edition eyewear that are sure to show off their wearer’s individuality, as no two pieces are the same.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
