Pared Eyewear

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 8 November 2026

Australia has a strong lineup of eyewear and sunglasses brands known for handling harsh UV conditions, sustainable manufacturing, and iconic fashion styles.

### Top Australian Eyewear Brands

- Le Specs - Style & History: Founded in 1979 on Bondi Beach, this is one of Australia's most iconic and accessible fashion-forward sunglasses brands. Known for retro-inspired frames, edgy silhouettes, and high-profile designer collaborations. - Price Range: Generally accessible/affordable fashion tier. - Spotters - Style & Focus: 100% Australian family-owned and built for extreme outdoor conditions, tradies, and fishermen. Famous for real glass lenses, high durability, and superior UV/glare protection. A consensus favorite on community forums like Reddit for rugged, real-glass performance. - Valley Eyewear - Style & Focus: Hand-crafted, luxury statement frames with bold geometric lines, bevelled temples, and distinct metal cross details. - Price: Around $280 AUD (e.g., iconic Leeches style). - Pared Eyewear - Style & Focus: Celebrated for 70s-inspired aviators, geometric shapes, and unique temple details with custom-wash lens options (such as the popular Uptown & Downtown series). - Price: Around $265 AUD. - Szade - Style & Focus: Based in Melbourne, Szade focuses heavily on circular fashion and eco-innovation by turning old, discarded sunglasses into trendy new recycled frames ("sunglasses made from sunglasses"). - Local Supply - Style & Focus: Born in Bondi, this brand specializes in eco-conscious design using fully biodegradable bio-acetate frames built to handle bright local sunlight. - AM Eyewear - Style & Focus: Founded in 2003, an artisan independent label focusing on high-end lifestyle frames, hand-crafted quality, and sustainable craftsmanship.

Are you looking for everyday fashion sunglasses, polarized outdoor/fishing glasses, or prescription optical frames? Tell me your preferred style or budget and I can recommend a specific brand.

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 8 November 2026

Australia has a seriously good independent sunglasses scene at the moment. If you're looking beyond Le Specs, Ray-Ban and the usual designer labels, these are the brands I'd have on my radar in 2026.

I've prioritised newer, boutique and design-led Australian labels rather than the mainstream players.

## 12 Australian sunglasses brands worth knowing

My shortlist, ranked by design appeal and individuality.

![Eyewear - Deering](

1\. Deering

(One to watch)

Modern, sculptural and fashion-forward. Think oversized 70s shapes, floating lenses and beautiful metal details.

Approx. \$250-\$350 · Launched 2024

Shop Deering

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!Australian Eyewear Brand Velvet Canyon New Range | Hypebae

2\. Velvet Canyon Very cool Byron Bay aesthetic. Vintage-inspired, understated luxury, interesting acetate and gorgeous silhouettes.

Approx. \$200-\$330

Shop Velvet Canyon

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![Retrospect

- Lu Goldie](

3\. Lu Goldie Playful, retro and distinctly fashionable. Beautiful colours, unusual shapes and 60s-90s references.

Approx. \$200-\$300

Shop Lu Goldie

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!PRIME TIME. Newtown Tort Gloss | Burnt Ochre Gradient - VAANYARD® | Applied Vision

4\. VAANYARD A particularly interesting emerging Sydney label. Minimal branding, substantial Japanese-made acetate and architectural shapes.

Premium independent positioning

Shop VAANYARD

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!west end; mint / matcha | Szade Recycled AU

5\. Szade Melbourne-based, affordable and trend-driven. Great 90s and Y2K silhouettes, with frames made using recovered eyewear materials.

Approx. \$50-\$100

Shop Szade

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!Tommy Napolitano - Campaign ADV/ VEHLA

6\. Vehla Refined, feminine and minimalist. Think understated luxury, vintage-inspired shapes and sophisticated colourways.

Approx. \$180-\$250

Shop Vehla

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![Void - Black Polished / Black

- EPOKHE EYEWEAR](

7\. Epøkhe Surf culture meets contemporary design. Strong frames, interesting shapes and a very cool creative identity.

Approx. \$200-\$290

Shop Epøkhe

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!Pared Eyewear

8\. Pared Eyewear Playful but sophisticated. Geometric shapes, unusual proportions and interesting colour combinations.

Shop Pared

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!Sustainable Sunglasses Made in Australia - Good Citizens Eyewear

9\. Good Citizens Sydney brand with a genuinely interesting sustainability story: recycled plastic frames and modular, repairable construction.

Approx. \$130

Shop Good Citizens

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![Heyuboy - Green - Poppy Lissiman](

10\. Poppy Lissiman Bold, eccentric and fashion-focused. Great if you want something that makes a statement.

Approx. \$200-\$300

Shop Poppy Lissiman

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!AM Eyewear - Spex in the City Optical Dispensary

11\. AM Eyewear More premium and sophisticated. Beautiful Italian acetate, distinctive proportions and excellent everyday designs.

Approx. \$250-\$450

Shop AM Eyewear

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!OUT OF SIGHT - Eco Black / Grey Polar

12\. OTIS Particularly worth considering if lens quality matters as much as aesthetics. Known for mineral glass lenses and durable construction.

Approx. \$200-\$350

Shop OTIS

www.broadsheet.com.aufashionjournal.com.aumivision.com.au

## My top five

| If you want… | My pick | |--------|--------| | Emerging fashion label | Deering | | Quiet luxury | Vehla | | Cool vintage aesthetic | Velvet Canyon | | Something different | Lu Goldie | | Best affordable option | Szade |

## A few brands I'd investigate first

![Angie Sunglasses - Gold with Sepia - Deering](

Deering

Fashion-forward

!Mirage' in Mocha - Velvet Canyon Eyewear

Velvet Canyon

Vintage cool

![LU-GOLDIE Salomé Sunglasses in Banana Milk

- Lu Goldie](

Lu Goldie

Playful designer

!PRIME TIME. Black Gloss | Grey Gradient - VAANYARD® | Applied Vision

VAANYARD

Under-the-radar premium

One thing\: Given Australia's UV levels, I'd look for AS/NZS 1067.1 compliance and Category 3 lenses for everyday bright-sun use.

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I'd love to narrow this down by aesthetic: are you after something more like The Row / Khaite / Celine \(understated, expensive-looking, sculptural) or Jacquemus / Loewe / vintage fashion \(more unusual, oversized and statement-making)?

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 8 November 2026

The best Australian sunglasses brands depend on your style and budget:

- Le Specs - Best overall for affordable, trend-led styles; an Australian-born brand with a broad range of men's, women's and unisex frames. - Quay Australia - Best for bold, fashion-forward sunglasses at accessible prices. - AM Eyewear - Best for premium, Australian-made eyewear and distinctive acetate frames. - Pared Eyewear - Best for polished, fashion-led designs, particularly classic and contemporary shapes. - Poppy Lissiman - Best for oversized, colourful and statement-making sunglasses; founded in Western Australia. - Vehla - Best for modern, luxe-looking frames, especially aviators and minimalist styles. - Raie - Best for understated, genderless sunglasses with clean, classic silhouettes. - Good Citizens - Best for sustainable, modular frames made from recycled plastic bottles in Sydney. - Szade - Best for affordable recycled sunglasses with contemporary designs. - Local Supply - Best for sustainable, unisex eyewear with a Bondi identity and social-impact focus. - Bailey Nelson - Best for an easy-to-try, widely available Australian eyewear option with classic styles. - Velvet Canyon - Best for handcrafted acetate frames and playful, design-focused shapes.

Quick shortlist: choose Le Specs for value, AM Eyewear for Australian-made quality, Pared or Vehla for refined fashion, and Good Citizens or Szade for sustainability. Look for lenses labelled Category 3 or Category 4 and compliant with Australian/New Zealand standards for strong sun protection.