Dec. 9, 2021 — Applications are now being accepted for the second annual Vision Expo Global Talent Search, a competition designed to pinpoint and support emerging eyewear designers and promote their work within the industry. 

The competition is put together by Vision Expo organizers The Vision Council and RX and is supported by the eyewear designers of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (edCFDA).

To be eligible for the talent search, eyewear designers must have a business established after Jan. 1, 2018, annual sales equal to $1 million or less, and established support within the press and social media.

The deadline for submissions is Jan. 10, 2022, and the winner will be announced on Jan. 21. A celebratory event highlighting the search and the winner will be hosted by the edCFDA and Vision Expo organizers on Friday, April 1, aligning with Vision Expo East 2022, which is scheduled for March 31 to April 3 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. The celebratory event will take place in The Atelier, Vision Expo’s new show destination/“neighborhood” focused on brands with unique culture. Plus, the winner will receive a complimentary booth at Vision Expo East 2022 in The Spring neighborhood, the show floor area dedicated to rising designers.

The winner of the talent search will be selected by a panel of seven designers from the edCFDA: Christian Roth, designer and co-founder of Christian Roth Eyewear and Optical Affairs; Jeff Press, chief creative officer for Morgenthal Frederics; Gai Gherardi, co-founder and co-designer of l.a.Eyeworks; Patty Perreira, co-founder of Barton Perreira; Selima Salaun, owner of Selima Optique; Shane Baum, president of Baumvision and founder and designer of Leisure Society; and Blake Kuwahara, founder and creative director of Focus Group West.



“As one of the seven judges for the Vision Expo Global Talent Search, supported by the edCFDA, I am delighted that we continue to amplify the voice of new talents in the world of eyewear design,” says Roth. “Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Vision Expo and The Vision Council, designers from around the globe are now eligible for consideration.”

Click here to access the application.