Opti’s crystal-ball gazing…

2. Sentimental – personal touches fused into design. Nostalgic elements, imperfections, handcrafted details and playful designs create frames with emotional resonance and individuality

3. Punk quotidien – the new wave of self-expression. Inspired by the raw energy of fringe subcultures, these designs embody new norms of beauty and authenticity

4. Surrealism – a new reality, unexpected and playful. Unconventional shapes, dreamy details and a touch of whimsy bring eyewear into a world of imaginative expression.

5. Ultralight – the future of comfort and innovation. A quest for ultimate lightness with materials like titanium, 3D-printed elements and high-density acetate. These frames offer ultra-thin profiles, transparency layers and precision engineering for a barely-there feel.

According to Olmsted, the materials used and the type of lenses, including tints, also contribute to these five trends. She predicts acetate trending in retro-inspired tortoises, marble and horn textures with layered gradients in neutral, tonal, or vibrant palettes. Exploring innovative contrasts with multi-layer colours and exposed core wires in temples is also something she expects to see more.

Metal will also trend, re-defined with dual colour finishes such as inner gold and outer black, adding a fresh perspective to bestsellers like gold, rose gold and black, she said. As for tints, she suggested a bandwidth from super-dark smoke or purple to saturated solids and double/triple-gradient lenses in vivid sunset and spice tones will be on trend for 2026.

For NZ frames and lenses distributors, see https://www.nzoptics.co.nz/searchable-oig