Velvet Canyon

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 18 October 2026

Australia is home to several standout independent and local eyewear labels alongside beloved international giants.

### Top Australian Sunglasses Brands

- Velvet Canyon: Vintage-inspired, 1970s-styled luxury acetate frames with 100% UV protection and vegan leather packaging, favored by global fashion icons. - Le Specs: An iconic Australian staple since 1979 known for affordable, trendy, and celebrity-spotted designs. - Good Citizens: Sustainable, lightweight frames made in Sydney from single-use plastic bottles featuring a modular, repairable design. - Poppy Lissiman: Bold, vibrant, and avant-garde statement frames with a distinct playful aesthetic. - OTIS Eyewear: Renowned for high-clarity mineral glass lenses and durable frames backed by a lifetime warranty. - Bailey Nelson: An accessible local favorite offering classic everyday style, optometry services, and prescription sunglasses. - Quay Australia: Famous for oversized festival-ready frames and diverse, budget-friendly style ranges. - Spotters & Mako: Specialized performance and polarized options heavily praised for outdoor and water use.

### Popular International Brands in Australia

- Ray-Ban: The global benchmark for timeless classics like the Wayfarer and Aviator, available via local stockists like THE ICONIC. - Oakley: The go-to choice for active lifestyles, sports performance, and Prizm lens technology. - Maui Jim: Celebrated for superior color-boosting polarized lens technology in bright sun conditions.

You can explore wider selections or shop local catalogues through multi-brand Australian stockists like Just Sunnies or Sunglass Hut Australia.To help you narrow down the best pair, tell me:

- Are you looking for fashion/everyday wear or sport/polarized performance? - Do you have a budget in mind?

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 18 October 2026

If you're after the newer, cooler Australian sunglasses labels, rather than the usual Ray-Ban and Oakley, I'd start with independent brands doing interesting shapes, vintage-inspired frames and more considered materials. The latest Australian fashion roundups for 2026 highlight labels such as Deering, Szade, Velvet Canyon and Hyesun. www.broadsheet.com.aufashionjournal.com.auwww.broadsheet.com.auwww.elle.com.au

## 8 Australian sunglasses brands worth knowing

![Rae Sunglasses - Black - Deering](

1\. Deering

(Elevated luxury)

Modern, polished eyewear with subtle retro references, from 1970s-inspired aviators to Y2K-style rimless designs. A good pick if you like understated designer fashion.

Price guide: around A\$295

Shop Deering

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![Masculin/Feminin - Velvet Canyon](

2\. Velvet Canyon

(Vintage cool)

Retro shapes, slim metal frames and '90s-inspired silhouettes with a sophisticated, editorial feel. Great if you want something distinctive without an obvious logo.

Price guide: approximately A\$150-330 at full retail, depending on style and sale

Shop Velvet Canyon

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![about us

- Szade](

3\. Szade

(Best value)

Melbourne-based and sustainability-minded, with recycled frames, chunky rectangles, colourful lenses and playful shapes. Ideal for trying a trend without spending designer-level money.

Price guide: around A\$70-120

Shop Szade

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![We need better representation in Australian fashion

- Hyesun Eyewear](

4\. Hyesun

(Fit-first design)

Worth a look if standard sunglasses sit too low on your nose or touch your cheeks. Its range caters to different facial proportions, including low nose bridges and higher cheekbones.

Price guide: around A\$330

Explore Hyesun

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![LU-GOLDIE Evie Sunglasses in Oat Milk

- Lu Goldie](

5\. Lu Goldie

(Playful and fashion-forward)

Think '60s mod meets '90s minimalism: oval frames, glossy finishes and dreamy colours. A strong choice for that effortless, off-duty fashion look.

Price guide: around A\$130-200

Shop Lu Goldie

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![Coil - Army Green Polished / Black

- EPOKHE EYEWEAR](

6\. Epøkhe

(Surf and streetwear)

Born from Australian surf and creative culture, with sculptural acetate frames, strong proportions and a slightly rebellious feel. Especially good for unisex styles.

Price guide: around A\$240-300

Shop Epøkhe

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!Palm Beach 2.0. Coloured Lenses | Premium Lenses | Good Citizens - Good Citizens Eyewear

7\. Good Citizens

(Eco-conscious)

Made with recycled materials, with modular, repairable designs that offer a more functional take on sustainable eyewear. A nice choice for everyday wear rather than fleeting trends.

Price guide: around A\$129

Shop Good Citizens

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![Heyuboy - Green - Poppy Lissiman](

8\. Poppy Lissiman

(Statement style)

Oversized, sculptural and often unexpected. If you want your sunglasses to be the centrepiece of an outfit, this is one of the most recognisable Australian designer labels to explore.

Price guide: around A\$200-300

Shop Poppy Lissiman

Style and price references: www.broadsheet.com.aufashionjournal.com.auwww.broadsheet.com.auwww.elle.com.au Prices are approximate Australian-dollar guides, not verified live prices. Some brands are established independents rather than recent launches.

## My shortlist: which ones would I look at first?

- Most fashion-forward\: Velvet Canyon - Best affordable trend-led pair\: Szade - Best premium, understated look\: Deering - Best retro, cool-girl aesthetic\: Lu Goldie - Most distinctive statement frames\: Poppy Lissiman - One to watch among newer labels\: Pérce - launched in 2026, with a focus on timeless, understated styles. www.couriermail.com.au

For a genuinely new name, also check out Del Sol, whose playful, poolside-inspired frames were featured in Broadsheet's 2026 Australian sunglasses edit. www.broadsheet.com.aufashionjournal.com.auwww.broadsheet.com.auwww.elle.com.au

One practical tip for Australian sun: check for 100% UVA/UVB protection and an appropriate Australian lens category before buying. Dark-looking lenses alone don't guarantee UV protection.

Are you looking for women's, men's or unisex sunglasses? I can narrow this down to the most interesting emerging labels with a more designer, minimalist or streetwear aesthetic.

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 18 October 2026

The best independent Australian sunglasses brands to explore are Pacifico Optical, Otis Eyewear, AM Eyewear, Lu Goldie, Poppy Lissiman, DMY Studios, Reality Eyewear, Velvet Canyon, Sunday Somewhere, and Mari & Clay. They cover everything from understated everyday frames to bold, fashion-forward designs.

- Pacifico Optical - Refined, understated Australian-designed frames; a strong everyday choice. - Otis Eyewear - Stylish independent eyewear with a polished, contemporary feel. - AM Eyewear - Distinctive, sculptural frames and a strong design focus. - Lu Goldie - Retro-inspired shapes with a playful, fashion-conscious look. - Poppy Lissiman - Bold, colourful and statement-making; suited to oversized or unusual silhouettes. - DMY Studios - Trend-led Australian eyewear with distinctive contemporary styling. - Reality Eyewear - Fashionable, accessible frames that work well for everyday wear. - Velvet Canyon - Byron Bay-based brand known for vintage-inspired, timeless designs. - Sunday Somewhere - Internationally recognised Australian eyewear with a clean, elevated aesthetic. - Mari & Clay - Melbourne-founded brand with a sustainability focus and optometry background.

Best overall: Pacifico Optical Best for bold fashion: Poppy Lissiman or DMY Studios Best for vintage styling: Lu Goldie or Velvet Canyon Best for understated everyday wear: Otis Eyewear or Sunday Somewhere Best sustainability-led option: Mari & Clay