Eyewear trends for 2026 – from Silmo

Eyewear trends for 2026: reflections following SILMO in Paris

On Thursday evening, my colleague Peter and I flew down to Paris. Two intense days awaited us at SILMO, packed with meetings, inspiration and a wealth of new experiences. The exhibition itself is situated about an hour outside Paris, so every morning began with the journey out to the exhibition centre. You have time to think a fair bit on the way, but mostly you just find yourself getting caught up in that feeling of anticipation.

On Sunday evening, we flew home again, tired but brimming with ideas and feeling as though we’d gained a real head start ahead of next season.

Meetings, people and plenty of glass

Last year, it was Åsa and Elsi who visited the fair, but this time it was Peter and I who went. We had lots of exciting encounters, both with old acquaintances and new contacts.

At Nirvan Javan, we had a really lovely time with Lukas Grapow, one of the founders and co-owners. We talked about their new 3D-printed collection and began planning an exclusive collaboration for the future. We also restocked our supply of frames, as they fly off the shelves incredibly quickly. Lukas was impressed when we told him how we work with tinted lenses and that we’ve even developed our own colour chart, with several members of staff having named the colours themselves.

We also sell a lot of their sunglasses, but often as ordinary glasses where the customer chooses a light tint for the lenses. This means the customer gets a pair of bespoke glasses that not many others have.

We also managed to pop into Götti, where we had a look at their new range. Incredibly light and stylish frames, perfect for anyone who wants their glasses to be barely noticeable, whether in their hand or on their face. Above, you can see Daniel wearing a classic aviator style from Götti.

Masunaga, whose glasses we sell in Östermalm, were there. We also got to see some exciting new products, including their anniversary collection. You’ve got to take your hat off to them – they really do make some lovely titanium frames.

We’ve stocked up heavily at Sunny Cords. They make absolutely fantastic glasses chains – little details that really enhance the whole experience of wearing glasses as an accessory.

Mykita was another highlight, although we had to sign an NDA before we were allowed to see their upcoming collaboration. So, unfortunately, I can’t say much more about it…

The evening rounded off with a party at Moscot, a brand we started stocking following a similar trade fair in Milan in 2012. Moscot has grown immensely since then, and although it is still the classic Lemtosh that tops the charts, the slightly newer Dolt and Dahven models have also made it onto the list.

Swedish events and new brands on the way

In the midst of it all, we bumped into Fredrik, the designer and founder behind the Swedish brand Metro. Fredrik is a fantastic person who, together with the team at Metro, has done an incredible job of creating affordable glasses of superb quality that are perfectly suited to the Swedish market.

We also took the opportunity to finalise a deal with a new brand that Åsa had already had her eye on. Their frames were exactly to our taste: well-made, luxurious, original and with just the right feel. I took the opportunity myself to pick out a couple of new favourites. The frames will be in the shops within a month or two, and I can promise you it’ll be a lovely surprise.

Eyewear trends for 2026: what we saw at SILMO

One of the most obvious trends at the moment – and one that is set to carry over into eyewear trends for 2026 – is how many brands are now focusing more actively on the lenses themselves. It’s very common for customers to choose tinted lenses, and it’s clear that manufacturers have adapted to this trend. Many sample lenses now come with a subtle tint as standard, which we really like.

You also notice that more customers want to build a sort of ‘eyewear wardrobe’. One pair for work, one pair for home, one pair for a night out. It’s no longer about finding that one perfect pair that goes with everything, but about being able to express different sides of yourself, just like with clothes. This often means people are perhaps more daring with one pair, and we’re also noticing in the shop that we’re fitting regular lenses into sunglasses more often – that is, customers choosing a sunglasses frame to turn into a pair of regular glasses. So, being a bit more daring with one’s glasses is definitely a trend.

In terms of shape, we’re seeing that narrower, more rectangular frames are becoming increasingly prominent at trade fairs. It’s a style that’s growing rapidly, and one we’ll be seeing even more of in our shops in the future.

Another striking impression is just how much more colour there is down in Europe compared to here at home. Bold colours and playful combinations are everywhere at the fair. One brand that really stands out is Anne Et Valentin, which is incredibly popular amongst those who dare to wear glasses with lots of colour and personality. It’s inspiring to see how colour is used as a way of expressing style and energy.

Our impressions of the trade fair

There’s something special about walking around out there amongst the stands, with designs from all over the world gathered under one roof. Seeing how materials evolve, how small details in hinges, glass and colour can change everything.

For us, SILMO is about two things: inspiration and relationships. It’s about finding inspiration, but also about building on partnerships we believe in. I truly believe that 2026 will be an exciting year.

On Sunday, before heading home, we managed to go for a walk in Paris and saw that huge tower rising above the city. A lovely way to round off a few intense days. We talked about everything we’d seen, summed up our thoughts and came to the same conclusion: that this year has laid the foundations for so many new things. We’re really on an exciting journey ahead.

An exciting time lies ahead, when all these ideas will come to fruition. New brands and more collaborations, inspired by Paris.

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