PRODUCT PROFILE
Eyewear Direct: total clarity Eyewear Direct has added New Balance and Bloc Eyewear to its ever-growing collection. Brett Waugh introduces the brands and the refreshed portfolio... Here at Eyewear Direct, we are excited to announce that two new brands have joined the Eyewear Direct family – New Balance and Bloc Eyewear. The addition of these brands enriches our portfolio, offering athleisure design at its finest. With a shift in the way we are living and working, athleisure is more popular than ever and an essential in every eyewear range.
NEW BALANCE: NOT JUST SPORTSWEAR New Balance stands for more than sportswear: it champions those who are fearlessly driven by their passions, who are fearlessly independent and doing right by people and the planet. The men’s, women’s and teens’ eyewear lines are ergonomically designed with E-lock temples, offering the perfect blend of function and fashion. The lightweight and strong styles celebrate the evolution of athleisure style.
Ergonomcially-designed New Balance eyewear
New Balance aligns with our own principles on transparency and quality, and is a brand customers know and trust. New Balance was one of only six companies to step forward and be featured on a new map that links brands to their suppliers’ environmental performance in China. For the first time, factory pollution data for suppliers can be viewed in almost real time by the public. In 2017, New Balance ranked 16th of 267 companies in the Corporate Information Transparency Index, which evaluates brands according to how well they address supply chain environmental responsibility in China. In 2018, they climbed to 11th overall. We believe that, together, we can drive meaningful change in the eyewear sector.
Ashton Riley has introduced a new compact range
26 Vision Now October 2021
Bloc Eyewear: revolutionising the sports eyewear industry
sports sunglasses and goggles using innovative technology. Designed in the UK, Bloc sports optical frames are strong, lightweight and flexible. The new collection is manufactured from tough and durable TR90 acrylic and Ultem Resin. TR90 is extremely comfortable and supremely lightweight, while Ultem (PEI) resin is an amorphous thermoplastic that provides exceptional flexibility. It is flame retardant, and resistant to chemicals, heat and UV light. This combination offers the best in performance technology, alongside the commercial style customers are looking for.
ASHTON RILEY: PERFECTLY COMPACT Ashton Riley is also celebrating new additions with the launch of its compact range for more petite face shapes. Competitively priced, Ashton Riley provides all-day style ensuring the wearer can move seamlessly from work to play – delivering quality acetate, stainless steel and titanium frames. Through our unique share scheme, stockists build up shares in the brand meaning everyone benefits from its success. Designed in and inspired by the UK, all frames take their names from towns and cities like bestsellers Cardiff, Oxford and Newtownabbey. New styles and colours are launched every eight weeks, and the new Ashton Riley website shows the latest additions with an option to order wholesale online.
BLOC EYEWEAR: UK-DESIGNED
HOOK LDN: MUSIC AND FASHION
Launched in 1988, Bloc Eyewear revolutionised the sports eyewear industry, creating high-performance
Hook LDN has grown from strength to strength - with its emphasises on creating quality, style led designs that are
