Sourcing: The Problem Nobody Talks About
Everyone in eyewear talks about design. About materials, about brand identity, about the customer experience. Far fewer talk honestly about where the product actually comes from, and why getting that part right is harder, more expensive, and more consequential than almost anything else a brand does. Ask a new brand
The Hidden Language of Acetate
There is a moment I have witnessed thousands of times on the shop floor and at trade shows. Someone picks up a frame, turns it over once, flexes the temple slightly, and says: “You can just feel the quality, can’t you?” They are not wrong. But most of them
The Art of the Fit
A beautiful frame is not enough. Here is what truly makes eyewear work and why the most technically perfect pair you will ever wear might be one you would never choose at first glance. There is a moment every eyewear designer knows well. A customer picks up a frame, tries
Optical Trade Shows 2026
And breathe.......... It’s been a crazy few months for those traveling to all the trade shows in the early part of the optical calendar. Opti, Mido, 100% Optical and Vision Expo East in the first two and half months of the year, is an intense schedule for those attending
Not Your Average Designer
Welcome. I wanted to create a space to share thoughts about eyewear, business and the optical market in general. I'm Brett Waugh. I started my journey in eyewear in 2001. I worked for one of the largest eyewear companies in the UK for 15 years. Whilst there I