Seeing the truth about glasses. China has a bespectacled population of about 300 million. If people replace their glasses once every three years, there's an annual demand for 100 million pairs. Demand for fashion eyewear such as sunglasses is just as huge.
The Mainland optical market is growing. Retail sales in 2008 are expected to reach Rmb50 billion and are expected to grow at an annual rate of over 20% to reach between Rmb150 and Rmb200 billion by 2020.
There's a trend for individualistic consumption, in the wake of rapid economic development and the increase in disposable incomes.
Spectacles have evolved from functional items into fashion accessories, as a good pair of glasses not only corrects people's vision but balances and complements faces and projects personality (think Sarah Palin, the US Republican vice presidential candidate).
Spectacles are playing an increasingly important role in people's life and have become fashion just like clothing and timepieces. No wonder some consumers say eyewear is a type of facial "fashion jewellery".
As greater importance is attached to the trendiness of eyewear, more and more people are willing to dig deeper into their pockets for better glasses.
Fashionable frames, sunglasses and colour contact lenses are trends for the future. It's not unusual for people to own several pairs of glasses for different occasions.
Italian, French and Japanese brands still lead international high-end markets. Luxury brands are producing diamond-studded and carat gold frames and frames with openwork designs for the fashion-conscious.
The trend of diversification in eyewear consumption has brought greater diversity in production, innovation, sales, circulation and market development.
This diversity finds expression in the variety of products and the design of frames and legs. Different types of materials are used, with attention to the functionality, complementarity and environmental friendliness of the materials.
Glasses have different functions for different purposes, such as glare-proof glasses for drivers, radiation-proof glasses and sports glasses. Consumers are more conscious of their bespectacled image. This extends the functions of eyewear to fashion.
Hong Kong's eyewear industry is famous for its design. Many leading Western brands are actually designed by Hong Kong companies. The quality, design, workmanship and brand name of these Hong Kong products have won the recognition of Mainland consumers.
Hong Kong eyewear has an irreplaceable place in the vast Mainland market.
