Latest Hong Kong optical fair unveils new focus on sustainability and technology
The Hong Kong International Optical Fair 2023 has made a triumphant post-pandemic return with a special focus on sustainability and technology.
The Hong Kong International Optical Fair 2023 has made a triumphant post-pandemic return with a special focus on sustainability and technology.
As a producer and exporter of medium- to high-end eyewear products, Hong Kong’s export value has risen by 3% this year compared to 2022.
“The total export value of Hong Kong’s spectacles, lenses and spectacle frames was valued at HK$19.1 billion [US$2.44 billion] in 2022, but the export value in the first nine months of this year exceeded HK$14.8 billion,” said Sophia Chong, deputy executive director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
HKTDC is one of the organisers of the 31st edition of the Hong Kong International Optical Fair, which is being held in an “EXHIBITION+” hybrid online-offline format. The physical exhibition was held from November 8 to 10, but is ongoing online until November 17.
This is the first time that the fair was held physically since Hong Kong fully reopened after the pandemic. The event, held at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre, featured some 700 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions attending and showcasing their products.
“We are pleased to see vibrant trading on the fairground and welcome buyers who have travelled from all over the world to Hong Kong for in-person sourcing,” Chong said.
“There has been a significant increase in attendance from ASEAN markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Buyer numbers from India, Macau and mainland China have also risen. This demonstrates Hong Kong’s enduring status as an international trade fair capital,” she added.
Smart eyewear in focus
As the world moves towards a more sustainable and tech-driven future, the eyewear industry is following suit to meet global standards and cater to customer demands.
Rapid advancements in technology, coupled with extensive research, have resulted in the emergence of smart technologies that now infiltrate every aspect of daily life. In particular, smart glasses have gained considerable attention in recent years, as they serve not only as essential optical tools but also as fashionable accessories.
This year, at the Smart Eyewear zone, a diverse range of eyewear and products using innovative technologies were presented.
One of the eye-catching products was AirGo™ 3 – smart glasses that combine ChatGPT and wearable tech by Hong Kong eyewear brand Solos Technology Ltd. Another innovative product was spectacle frames made from highly elastic memory metal by South China Optical Industries Co.
However, materials and designs vary in different parts of the world.
“In the UK and Europe, people prefer creatively fashioned eyewear, while in Asia people prefer fancy eyewear,” said Kevin Ching, creative director of Big Horn, which won an award in the sunglass category at the 2023 London Design Awards.
In the US, meanwhile, “simple and printed patterns are in trend”, said Kerry Ann Raimo, managing editor of Eyecare Business and Contact Lens Spectrum magazines.
The fair this year featured 200 well-known brands, including A.Society from China, Absolute Vintage Eyewear, bTd and PARIM from Hong Kong, CLASSICO from Taiwan, agnès b and MINIMA from France, Anna Sui, Jill Stuart, New Balance and VOY from the US, Ted Baker and Vivienne Westwood from the UK, Stepper from Germany, Masaki Matsushima, Matsuda, MIZ Gold, and TIDOU from Japan, and GENSDUMONDE, and PLUME PEOPLE LUV ME from South Korea.
Sustainable opticals
The optical industry has joined efforts to protect the environment by using recycled, sustainable materials. These apparently represent long-term industry goals and serve as a driving force behind the industry’s development.
Hong Kong’s Wingram Industrial Co Ltd, which debuted at this expo, introduced BioAcetate S70 – a biobased and biodegradable material used to produce sustainable eyewear products.
The event also focused on the e-commerce platform as a way to further develop and expand the eyewear business in the post-pandemic era. E-commerce and social media have become great marketing platforms for short-term survival and long-term growth in both domestic and international stages.
The fair, co-organised by HKTDC and Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association (HKOMA), was held under the theme “Extend Expand Enhance”.
As of 2021, Hong Kong was the world’s sixth-largest producer of medium- to high-end spectacles and frames. Hong Kong producers mainly focus on overseas buyers and well-known international brands on an OEM/ODM basis from manufacturing bases in mainland China and ASEAN countries.
