Vision Expo hosted “Trend Forecasting: Colors, Materials & What’s Next,” inviting industry leaders to share actionable insights on identifying and applying eyewear trends for practices and retail environments. The session featured panelists Nico Rosier, founder of Un-Ti-Tled; Janine Allen, fashion educator and founder of Asgnmt; and Leslie Dies, executive vice president of Doneger | Tobe. The discussion covered trend spotting, color, materials, timing, and practical applications for eyecare professionals.

Where Eyewear Trends Come From

All 3 panelists emphasized that inspiration for eyewear trends comes from a wide spectrum of sources: runway shows, street style, social media, travel, architecture, museums, and even student projects.

Dies noted, “It's like everything all the time, everywhere. You're seeing things and deciding on things. I think one of the biggest issues and the real thing to keep yourself disciplined about doing it is you have to have a point of view, and you have to walk the line between watching and following what's happening and then creating original ideas out of that inspiration.”

“If you really know your brand identity and follow trends loosely, you can figure out how it fits back into your brand,” said Allen.

Rosier emphasized the importance of curiosity and understanding local clientele: “Knowing who your customers are and what your stores providing for others helps you decide what you're going to have on the shelf and what trend you're going to want to fund.”

For ECPs, this means that cultivating a trend-spotting “muscle” is possible through awareness, curiosity, and applying insights to the local patient base rather than blindly following global fashion trends.

“Trends aren't the north star that they have become. Trends are more of a light path,” says Dies. “It's the indicators of trends. You don't have to follow the trend to the T, which is where I think some of it deteriorates.”

“It's looking at your numbers with selling for you, then also listening to your community and your customers and not reworking something that doesn't need to be reworked,” said Allen. “We don't need to reinvent the wheel all the time. And trends are just that. They're trends. They're not made for everyone to jump on because it just might not identify with you and your brand.

Key Takeaways

1. Stay curious: Observe global and local trends, but always filter them through your patient base.

2. Balance risk: Maintain a strong foundation of classic frames while strategically introducing color and material variations.

3. Story matters: Craft a narrative around your collections—patients respond to passion and context.

4. Use displays creatively: Highlight pop colors and unique combinations to attract attention without overhauling inventory.

5. Mind timing: Introduce trends neither too early nor too late; sync offerings with patient expectations.

For ECPs, trend forecasting is not about chasing every new fad but about understanding the intersection of fashion, patient preferences, and product storytelling. By thoughtfully applying these insights, practices can stay relevant, attract curiosity, and drive sales while maintaining their unique brand identity.