Hong Kong Optical Fair Opens Next Month

23 October 2017 – The 25^th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong Optical Fair will be held from 8-10 November (Wednesday to Friday) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and co-organised by the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association, the three-day fair will feature a record 800 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions, including new exhibitors from Denmark, San Marino and Sweden. The Chinese mainland, France, Italy, Japan, Korea and Taiwan will mount group pavilions, while the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association and the Visionaries of Style will also set up pavilions, providing an all-round trading platform for the industry.

“The global spectacles market is enormous,” said Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC, at today’s press conference. “This year, global eyewear sales reached almost HK$1 trillion. As a centre for eyewear manufacturing and exports, Hong Kong’s total exports of spectacles, lenses and frames in the first eight months of 2017 exceeded HK$13.8 billion, a four per cent year-on-year increase. This result was attributable to a strong rebound in demand in mature markets such as Japan, Australia and New Zealand. The United States is Hong Kong’s top export market, followed by Italy and the Chinese mainland. Exports to ASEAN countries have also been satisfactory.” Mr Chau added that Hong Kong has long been a key promotion platform and sourcing hub for eyewear, with more local manufactures expanding into Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) and Original Brand Manufacturing (OBM), targeting medium- to high-end markets and improving product quality to enhance competitiveness.

This year’s Optical Fair will feature nine zones that showcase a broad spectrum of eyewear products to facilitate buyer sourcing. The Brand Name Gallery will feature more than 220 international brands, including 999.9, B1919 EYEWEAR, BLANC & ECLARE, EVISU, Freddie Wood, ic! berlin, Markus-t, MINIMA, MUZIK, Oh My Glasses TOKYO, PARIM, Savile Row, Stepper, Superdry and more. A number of eyewear parades will be held during the fair, with models showcasing the latest collections of several trend-setting eyewear brands.

Other zones include Contact Lens & Accessories; Sporting & Professional Eyewear; Kids Eyewear and Reading Glasses; Frames, Lens and Parts; Eyewear Accessories; Diagnostic Instruments; as well as Optometric Instruments & Machinery. Meanwhile, with the rapid development of mobile technology, e-Badge will be launched for the first time at the fair to enhance buyers’ sourcing experience.

From hand-crafted vintage eyewear to high-tech designs, a spectacle of the latest trends
The scholarly style has been in vogue in recent years as are hand-crafted spectacles. At the show, several renowned brands known for hand-crafted eyewear will be featured, including Oh My Glasses TOKYO, CLASSICO and Savile Row. The popular Japanese brand 999.9, which specialises in comfortable, durable frames made with acetate and titanium will showcase its special-edition frame designed with its patented Gyaku-R for the overseas market. Another boutique Japanese eyewear brand, Matsuda, will display a pair of spectacles that fuses traditional Japanese design and western Gothic influences, showcasing a vintage and progressive design.

BLANC & ECLARE, a brand founded by Jessica, the multi-talented Korean superstar, will stage its debut show at the Optical Fair, featuring its glamorous sunglasses made in a hybrid acetate and metal style.  

German exhibitor Freddie Wood is the first brand to construct frames using natural buffalo horn. The unique pattern of each frame is excellent for reflecting the wearer’s distinctive style. Another German brand, ic! berlin, is famous for its bold and innovative designs. The brand’s latest collection, which sports geometric patterns, was inspired by the Suprematist paintings of the 20^th-century artist Malevich. The design highlights the harmony of the frame and face, presenting an elegant artistic impression.

Hong Kong is a renowned eyewear design and manufacturing centre. To showcase Hong Kong’s creativity, the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association will feature a number of local brands at the Brand Name Gallery, including BIG HORN, CreationVC, Genic Eyewear, PAULO PILIPE and People by People. BIG HORN’s creative, bold and innovative designs are highly sought after by international celebrities and stylists. Its collections have won several international awards, including Italy’s A’ Design Award and the US International Design Award. Hong Kong brand People by People, meanwhile, will showcase its new foldable sunglasses.

Smart eyewear has become a new trend with immense market potential for protective lenses. Shutoo Gavazzi Optical Ltd will feature its LCD lenses that change colours based on light conditions. It can change from sunglasses to colourless plain glasses in a second. The product also uses a patented technology for eye protection.

Eyewear Design Competition uncovers local creative talent
To foster local creativity and showcase Hong Kong designs to global buyers, the HKTDC has teamed up with the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association to jointly organise the 19^th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition. Nearly 100 entries were submitted this year, and eight major awards were handed out at a press conference today. Under the theme “Free Flow,” designers competed in the Open Group and Student Group categories. The entries were judged on such criteria as creativity, design, functionality and market potential.

Bo Bo Lai, winner of last year’s competition, again clinched the Open Group Champion title this year as well as the Creativity Award. This time, Ms Lai used children’s glasses and drew inspiration from animal traps for her work entitled “Monster Trap.” The frame resembles a monster biting its prey, conveying the message that the human pursuit of knowledge is like animal hunting, which requires intense focus. For the Student Category, Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) student Chan Cho Man, won the championship with the work “Coiled.” A minimalistic design in elegant gold colour, the sleek and streamlined frame accentuates the wearer’s natural aesthetic qualities.

The Made-to-Sell Award was won by So Yiu Kwok. His design, made with stainless steel with retro leather temples, can be assembled in different ways to match the wearer’s personality.

The winner of The Latest Look Award will be announced in the first evening (8 November) of the Optical Fair. From now until 8 November, buyers can vote for their favourite designs at the fair website. All winning and shortlisted entries will be displayed at Hall 1D during the fair to showcase Hong Kong’s outstanding creativity to global buyers. Buyers can also cast their votes on-site, and the design with the most votes will win The Latest Look Award. For details about the winning works of the 19^th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition, please visit: http://bit.ly/2zvsEPI

Diverse events promote industry exchange
The 15^th Hong Kong Optometric Conference will be held on the second day of the fair (9 November) under the theme “Neuro Vision Rehabilitation.” The conference will feature experts from Hong Kong, Australia, Canada and the United States, including ophthalmology professor Eliezer Peli of the Harvard Medical School, who specialises in aging-eye research. The conference will examine such important topics as prismatic treatments and elderly neuro visual disorders. There will also be multiple seminars and workshops to facilitate market-intelligence exchange, including on Europe’s retail and consumer trends and business opportunities in emerging markets. Renowned German research firm GfK has again been invited to speak on eyewear design and market trends.

Fair Website
Hong Kong Optical Fair: www.hktdc.com\hkopticalfair

Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communication and Public Affairs Department:

Christine Kam          Tel: (852) 2584-4514           Email: christine.kam@hktdc.org

About the HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong’s businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.