SUMMARY
The brand offers a versatile range of sports and prescription sunglasses suitable for everyday wear, travel and outdoor activities and will soon unveil co-branded collections
The Origin Story
Think of stylish shades, and one would generally find shoppers browsing through top-quality global brands. However, designer sunglasses are too expensive, as Mehul Jakharia and his peers found when one of them broke his glasses on a trekking trip. Moreover, eyewear should combine advanced technology with style and comfort to push the limits of tradition. Understanding the growing demand for stylish but pocket-friendly sports sunglasses for an active/outdoorsy lifestyle, Jakharia left his cushy banking job in the US and launched Eyewearlabs.
The Differentiator
OKNO By Eyewearlabs is the D2C brand’s flagship, offering stylish eyewear options suitable for everyday wear, travel and sports activities like running, biking and hiking. The range includes TR90 frames and bio-based sunglasses made from wooden offcuts and bio acetate, a combination of wood pulp and cotton that works as a plastic alternative. All its shades are lightweight and durable, exquisitely designed and promise zero-slip fits. Additionally, the brand offers prescription sunglasses, couple glasses and computer glasses that block 99% of harmful blue light. It uses 34% less water and generates 33% less CO2 emissions and 82% less waste than traditional production procedures.
The Growth
Eyewearlabs positions its shades as a lifestyle choice similar to what celebrities prefer. Its products are sold on its website and major e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra and Ajio, as well as in a few offline retail stores. The brand launched its affordable KAEN range, priced below INR 1K, and claimed a 107% revenue growth in FY23.
What’s Next
By 2024, Eyewearlabs plans to expand its OKNO range with co-branded collections in collaboration with global brands and celebrities. It also plans to launch a recycling programme by 2025, allowing customers to exchange their old shades for a 50% discount on their next purchase. The brand will introduce a franchise model to establish brick-and-mortar stores for customer convenience and aims to grow its revenue to INR 500 Cr in the next three years.
