As eyewear like eyeglasses and sunglasses blend style and practicality for consumers, the global eyewear market continues to see impressive growth. North America is reported to hold the largest share of the eyewear market, with Canada being one of the hubs for eyewear products that appeal to both fashion-forward and health-conscious consumers.
In addition to key growth drivers like increased awareness of eye health and advancements in technology, social media marketing plays a crucial role in the growth and popularity of Canadian eyewear brands and retailers. Specifically, these eyewear companies leverage Instagram for short-form video content, considering 91% of Instagram users regularly watch videos on the platform.
Of course, Instagram is also ideal for showcasing the wide range of eyewear offerings in creative and engaging ways, from Instagram stories and ads to built-in shopping features and engagement insights. So, if you’re interested in exploring the different types of eyewear designed and made by Canadian companies, here are four Instagram accounts to follow.
Clearly.ca (@clearlyca)
Founded in Vancouver, BC in 2000, Clearly is a leading retailer selling prescription glasses both online and in physical stores. Its glasses selection includes not only signature in-house collections but also stylish frames from high-end brands like Michael Kors, Persol, and Ralph by Ralph Lauren.
While Clearly’s Instagram mainly showcases timeless frame styles like transparent, cat-eye, and double-bridged, the company also offers lens options to meet varying vision and lifestyle needs, including single-vision, progressive, and blue light-filtering lenses. Like the official Clearly website, the Instagram account also helps users make more informed eyewear purchases through a face shape guide and information on direct billing for vision care insurance on its Highlights.
Eyebuydirect (@eyebuydirect)
While Eyebuydirect is based in Austin, Texas, it has become one of the top eyewear retailers in Canada through affordable and quality frames that start at $9. Despite its business model being built on cutting the middleman for more accessible price points, the retailer still offers exclusive eyewear from designer brands like Coach and Vogue Eyewear.
On Instagram, the eyewear retailer features its trendy frames for eyeglasses and sunglasses, often highlighting best-sellers and its collaborative collections with celebrities like Tan France. Additionally, Eyebuydirect regularly hosts giveaways to engage its following.
KITS (@kitseyecare)
As another Vancouver-based brand, KITS Eyecare promotes its range of eyeglasses and sunglasses as proudly made and handcrafted in Canada. The eyewear brand was established in 2018 and continues to generate impressive revenue, as demonstrated by its Cyber Monday promotion reporting $700,000 worth of sales with 82% of year-over-year growth.
Like the other brands featured on this list, KITS’ account is centered on its state-of-the-art frame styles, such as the best-selling Fir glasses and its minimalist precision progressives. The brand also regularly reposts user-generated content (UGC) to boost engagement.
KayTran Eyewear (@kaytran_eyewear)
Compared to the aforementioned eyewear companies and retailers, the brand KayTran Eyewear is relatively less known. However, the brand prides itself on its eyewear not only being handcrafted in Canada but also being uniquely designed for Asian features.
As such, the frames posted on KayTran Eyewear’s Instagram account boast a low-bridge fit with a slip-proof fit. The brand was launched in 2012 and has since expanded its reach across North America and 17 other countries in Asia and Europe.
In addition to following these brands to stay updated on the latest eyewear trends and releases, you can utilize Instagram’s save post feature for the products you’re interested in. The “save” button allows you to store content for easier reference and even organize posts in collections without notifying the account posting them. Continue reading Stories Down’s blog posts for more Instagram-related tips and guides.
