Cool and
Colourful
by Denis Langlois
At a small optical boutique in southern Ontario, seven-yearold Sophie Rodgers doesn't take long to choose a new pair
of glasses. Within minutes, she spots a pair of pink-andblack acetate frames with funky patterns on the temples
along the display wall of kids' frames.
kids are drawn to an array of shapes, colours and materials
when it comes to frames, but their ultimate goal is to have a
“fun and trendy look.”
“I love the colour on these ones and they're really cool,”
she says, after trying them on and glancing at herself in
the mirror.
“Parents want a frame for their kids that is resilient enough
to handle everyday wear and tear,” he says.
But Sophie's mom, Stephanie, has more questions for their
eyecare professional. Most importantly, will the frames be
able to endure the rambunctious life of a second-grader?
And Stephanie has some questions for her daughter too – do
you love them and do they feel comfortable?
When choosing frames for children, those are exactly the
kinds of things to keep in mind, according to the Canadian
Association of Optometrists. The organization recommends
that parents ensure their child likes the style and colour of
their frames and that the glasses both provide a comfortable
fit and are durable.
Eyewear companies are well aware of the importance
of creating cool frames that appeal to kids while designing
them to meet the approval of today's parents.
And, just in time for back-to-school shopping season,
multiple eyewear companies have added new frames to
their collections that meet both criteria.
Pierre Bessez, general manager of Marchon Canada, says
Parents, meanwhile, want to ensure their child's eyewear
is comfortable, stylish and most importantly durable, he says.
Marchon Canada has added new children's styles to both
its Marchon NYC and Lacoste T(w)een collections
this summer.
“Lacoste eyewear offers a fresh, youthful approach with an
assortment of colour combinations and styles that are accented with eye-catching details and designs,” Bessez says.
Each of the new Lacoste styles, which include sunglasses
and ophthalmic frames, integrate Lacoste's signature
“preppy-chic look in a functional way.”
The new Marchon NYC frames feature a large selection of
bright colours, from bright blues to hot pinks.The brand's
new Estella and Celeste models have cool crystal temples
with two-tone star prints on both sides.
Tura Inc., which has offices in Canada and the United States,
has also added new frames for boys and girls to its Ted Baker
“Just Kidding,” Kate Young for Tura and oio children's
eyewear collections.
Loyedie Desir, product manager for children’s collections
at Tura, says the company's kids frames offer a combination
Optical Prism | July 2016 19