As a newly established independent eyewear brand, many people are interested in understanding the current state of eyewear manufacturing locations. With over 30 years of experience in eyewear processing, we have witnessed the rise, development, and stabilization of the eyewear industry in China. Here is our analysis of the main production areas for eyewear around the world.
Italy
Italy holds an important position in global eyewear production, with its main production areas located in the northern and central parts of the country, such as Florence, Milan, and Parma. Italian eyewear production focuses primarily on the high-end market, known for its stylish designs and excellent quality. Several well-known global eyewear companies, such as Luxottica, Safilo, and Kering, have part of their production in Italy. Generally, eyewear manufactured in Italy, France, or Japan is priced at over USD 550.
United States
The United States is also a significant eyewear producer, with its main production areas located in the eastern and western parts of the country, including New York, New Jersey, and Florida. American eyewear production is mainly concentrated in the high-end market, known for its stylish designs and excellent quality.
France
France is another important eyewear production country, with main production areas in the eastern and western parts of the country, including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. French eyewear production also focuses on the high-end market, known for its stylish designs and excellent quality.
Germany
Germany is a key eyewear production country, with its main production areas located in the southern and northern parts of the country, such as Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin. German eyewear production is also concentrated in the high-end market, known for its stylish designs and excellent quality.
Japan/Korea
Japan and Korea are important eyewear production countries. In Japan, the main production areas are located in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, while in Korea, it is mainly in Daegu. Eyewear production in these countries also focuses on the high-end market, known for its stylish designs and excellent quality.
China
China is the global leader in eyewear production, accounting for about 70% of the world's eyewear production. The main production provinces in China are Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Fujian. China's eyewear production covers the entire production chain, including raw material production, processing, manufacturing, and export.
- Jiangsu Province: Jiangsu is a significant base for eyewear manufacturing in China, especially Danyang, which is known as the "Eyewear Capital of China." The region has a comprehensive eyewear industry chain, covering everything from raw materials to finished products.
- Zhejiang Province: Wenzhou and Taizhou in Zhejiang are important areas for eyewear manufacturing. Wenzhou is known for its fashionable designs and innovation, while Taizhou is renowned for its large-scale production and efficient management. Although the quality was relatively lower in the past, it has improved with the industry's development. However, the details still cannot compare with Shenzhen. Yiwu in Zhejiang is known for the lowest-end products, which are more like eyewear decorations rather than functional glasses. Products from Danyang, Taizhou, and Wenzhou are mainly mid-to-low-end, with Wenzhou being relatively better.
- Fujian Province: Xiamen and Quanzhou in Fujian are also notable for eyewear production, primarily targeting the mid-to-low-end market, but with some high-end products as well. Xiamen is known for its sunglasses and mid-range brands, with successful commercialization and marketing. Brands like Bolon and Molsion are well-known Chinese eyewear brands. Xiamen's injection-molded eyewear frames are highly competitive in terms of quality and price.
- Guangdong Province: Shenzhen and Dongguan in Guangdong are the main areas for high-end eyewear production. These factories have advanced equipment, high-tech processes, and excellent product quality. Shenzhen is known for its high-quality eyewear, initially developed by reputable Hong Kong eyewear factories in the 1990s, such as Starry, Optical88, Hongyun, Kaidi, and others. These factories mainly take orders from major European and American brands like Dior, Chanel, and Porsche, earning processing fees similar to the relationship between Foxconn and Apple.
How to find suitable factories?
Independent eyewear brands looking to collaborate with factories in Shenzhen should pay special attention to the following aspects:
►Basic Information: This includes the year of establishment, number of employees, production capacity, etc., which most entrepreneurs or workers will consider.
►Significant Production Advantages: Determine if the factory's strengths lie in better detail handling, higher polishing levels, quality and efficiency of two-tone electroplating, or better integration of metal and acetate materials. Understanding these advantages helps decide if the factory can meet the design and processing needs of the independent eyewear brand.
►Timeliness: The normal production cycle for large orders is 75-90 days. Factories that can consistently deliver within this timeframe, with a delay rate of less than 20% while maintaining good quality, are valuable and hard to find.
►After-Sales Service: Upholding the principle of responding to customer feedback, providing reliable support is crucial. For example, a client once mentioned our prices were higher, but despite this, they still chose to place half of their new orders with us. This was because we once unconditionally compensated 10% of an order's total amount due to a quality issue with TAC lenses, which we sourced from another manufacturer. TAC lenses are known to have delamination issues, a problem the industry is still working to fully resolve.
If you have any other questions, please contact our sales team at sales01@deepwardeyewear.com.
https://www.deepwardeyewear.com/production-advantage
