Jonathan Saunders Signs Deal with Sunshades Eyewear

Women's Wear Daily writes: "Jonathan Saunders has inked a five-year deal with the Australian manufacturer Sunshades Eyewear to produce a line of sunglasses. 'This is important in terms of increasing our product lines and reaching an aspirational customer,' the designer told WWD, adding the sunglasses would have global distribution. He described the initial encounter with Sunshades as a 'meeting of minds' and praised the company’s 'innovative approach' to materials and the quality of its product. The 29-piece collection will land in stores in February and will incorporate Saunders’ love of color and print." Read more.

Karen Walker Rocking Success Down Under

"Karen Walker has a problem that most designers dream of. Worldwide demand for her sunglasses has exceeded supply," reports New Zealand's Stuff. "Sunshades Eyewear in Sydney, which has produced Walker's frames since the start of the eyewear brand in 2005, is 'working at capacity' to produce more stock. It is Sunshades' most successful brand on the international market, and to put that in perspective, Sunshades sells three million pairs of sunglasses a year and accounts for 50 per cent of the market share in Australia." Read more.

Austrailian Company Looks to Cut in on Luxxotica's Market Share

"Rodney Grunseit heads up Sunshades Eyewear, Australia’s biggest privately owned eyewear company, which sells up to 3.5 million pairs per year," according to SmartCompanyAustralia. "The company, which was founded by Grunseit’s mother Betty Lasse, turns over $35 million a year and is looking to expand its international operations to diversify from the shrinking Australian market. It is also hoping to capitalise on industry disquiet about the dominance of Luxottica, which [licenses] Ray-Ban, Prada and Versace [brands] and has been buying retailers and going vertical." Read more.