The demand for children’s eyewear is rising fast because kids are spending more time on screens and outside, and more parents are paying attention to early vision health.
For eyewear brands, choosing the right kids eyewear supplier in China means making sure the glasses are safe, look good, and come from a dependable factory.
Wondering how to find a trusted partner for your next kids’ eyewear collection?
In this guide, we break down everything from product types and technical specs to sourcing tips and factory selection strategies.
Table of Contents
A Growing Market with Unique Needs
The kids’ eyewear segment is expanding rapidly across global markets. More screen time, better understanding of kids’ eye health, and parents wanting safe, useful glasses have made this market grow. If you’re getting into this market, look for suppliers who really understand kids, use safe materials, and can keep up with style trends.
Why?
Children need frames that are lightweight, flexible, and durable. Designs must also be age-appropriate, fun, and safe for rough daily use. This means manufacturers need the skills to make glasses that look good, work well, and keep kids safe.
For eyewear companies, entering or expanding into this segment means finding a supplier that understands all of these challenges—and can produce high-quality glasses in large quantities without problems.
Fashion and Function Go Hand in Hand
Today’s kids want eyewear that looks good, while parents prioritize protection and durability. Brands must meet both expectations by delivering designs that are both stylish and practical. Good products have bright colors or fun characters to catch kids’ attention, and include UV protection, a comfortable fit, and strong hinges to help parents feel confident. Glasses aren’t just for seeing anymore—they’ve become part of how kids show their style and stay protected.
Popular designs now include:
Bright colors and character-themed frames
Ergonomic features like anti-slip nose pads and spring hinges
Protective lenses with blue light filters and UV400 coating
As a result, kids’ eyewear is no longer treated as a side category. It’s a growing market where good design, comfort, and safety help brands win over both kids and parents.
Choosing the Right Size: Age-Specific Fit Matters
Children’s eyewear isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each stage of childhood has different face shapes, activity levels, and comfort needs — that’s why having the right sizes is very important for any eyewear brand selling kids’ glasses.
| Age Group | Key Features | Material & Design Priorities |
| Infants (12–36 months) | Soft, ultra-flexible frames with wide bridges and wrap-around arms for safety and comfort | BPA-free, hypoallergenic materials like TPE or silicone; minimal pressure points |
| Toddlers (3–5 years) | Lightweight, shatter-resistant frames that stay on during active play | Flexible temples, soft nose bridges; durable design for twisting, pulling, napping |
| Children (6–12 years) | Multiple size options; balance of durability and personal style | Spring hinges, prescription-ready; TR90 frames ideal for everyday school use |
| Teens (12–15 years) | More mature styles with the ongoing focus on comfort and protection | Slimmer designs, youth-to-adult transition aesthetics, blue light and UV protection |
Having clear sizing options builds brand trust and helps reduce returns — a win for both you and your customers.
Materials That Matter: What Goes Into Safe and Comfortable Kids’ Eyewear
Choosing the right material matters for safety, not just production. Children’s eyewear must have the right mix to be flexible, strong, and safe for the skin.
Several high-performance materials are widely used in kids’ frames:
| Material | Ideal Age Group | Key Benefits | Notes | |
| TR90 | 6–15 years | Lightweight, durable, flexible | Great for daily school use | |
| TPE | 12 months–5 yrs | Ultra-soft, BPA-free, hypoallergenic | Ideal for sensitive skin | |
| TPU | 2–6 years | Tough yet safe, flexible | Resistant to twisting/chewing | |
| Silicone | All ages | Non-slip, soft fit | Common in nose pads and tips |
TR90: A popular choice for school-age children and teens. Lightweight, impact-resistant, and flexible, TR90 offers excellent comfort for everyday wear. It also holds its shape well, making it ideal for prescription frames.
TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer): Commonly used for infant and toddler eyewear. This rubber-like material is ultra-soft, hypoallergenic, and free from BPA and other harmful chemicals. It provides gentle contact with delicate skin and reduces the risk of pressure marks.
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane): Offers a slightly firmer structure than TPE, while still remaining flexible and safe. It’s highly resistant to tearing and deformation, making it suitable for very young children who may twist or chew on their glasses.
Silicone: Often used in nose pads and ear tips. Silicone adds comfort and grip, helping frames stay in place even during active play.
Choosing the wrong material can lead to discomfort, skin irritation, or frequent product returns. Always assess user age, activity level, and climate-specific needs when selecting materials.
Popular Styles in Kids’ Eyewear
Today’s kids’ glasses combine fun styles with useful features. As young consumers care more about style, brands must follow new styles that kids and parents like.
Here are some of the top trending styles:
Round Frames
Soft and retro-inspired, round frames are favored for their gentle look and suitability for smaller faces.
Color-Block Designs
Two-tone frames—often with bright, playful color combinations—are eye-catching and expressive.
Transparent Frames
Clear or lightly tinted frames are a rising trend, offering a modern and minimalist feel popular among tweens.
Character-Inspired Themes
Frames featuring licensed cartoon or movie characters remain strong sellers, especially for ages 3–8.
Sporty Wrap-Around Styles
Designed for active kids, these styles offer extra coverage and are popular in sunglasses and sports goggles.
Modular Hinged Designs
Some newer frames feature interchangeable or snap-in hinges, allowing children to mix colors or replace parts easily. This adds an element of fun and extends product life—especially useful for younger kids who may break or outgrow frames quickly.
By offering a variety of these styles across age groups and use cases, eyewear brands can better capture today’s diverse and trend-conscious children’s market.
Color Preferences in Kids’ Eyewear
When it comes to kids’ eyewear, color is as much a sales driver as functionality. Data from leading brands show that sky blue, red, and pink consistently outperform neutral shades among preschoolers. For older kids, semi-transparent or matte navy tones are trending, reflecting a shift toward “grown-up” aesthetics. Brands that understand what colors kids like in different areas can make a bigger impact.
Younger kids, especially those aged 3 to 6, often prefer vibrant colors like sky blue, pink, yellow, or red, sometimes inspired by their favorite characters or cartoons. For older children and pre-teens, more stylized tones such as navy, purple, teal, and even transparent frames are becoming popular.
Some brands also offer color-changing frames or dual-tone designs that shift under sunlight, adding fun and functionality. Offering a wide palette not only boosts appeal but also helps children feel more confident and excited to wear their glasses every day.
Leading Brands in the Kids’ Eyewear Market
To understand what drives demand in the kids’ eyewear segment, it helps to look at some of the top-performing brands in the market. These brands have set benchmarks in design, safety, and comfort for children’s optical products:
Dilli Dalli – Known for its patented IntelliFlex™ hinge and soft, flexible materials designed specifically for infants and toddlers.
Zoobug – A UK-based brand offering stylish and protective sunglasses and optical frames for kids aged 0–12, with award-winning pediatric designs.
Babiators – Famous for its durable, flexible sunglasses for babies and toddlers, Babiators combines fun colors with UV protection and shatter-resistant lenses.
Izipizi – A French brand celebrated for its lightweight, colorful, and fashion-forward eyewear for all ages—including dedicated collections for children with blue light protection and UV filters.
Miraflex – Specializes in infant and pediatric eyewear using soft, BPA-free plastic. Their frames are flexible and metal-free, ideal for the youngest wearers.
These brands show that kids’ glasses can be safe, look good, and have features that children need—all at the same time. For OEM/ODM businesses, learning from these top brands gives helpful ideas about product design, how to talk to buyers, and what kind of packaging kids and parents like. These all help win more of the children’s eyewear market.
Not sure where to start with your kids’ eyewear sourcing? You’re not alone — finding the right partner means faster product launches, lower defect rates, and stronger customer loyalty. At Minghang Eyewear, we offer ISO-certified production, full design-to-sample support, and a wide selection of age-specific SKUs. Let’s build your next popular kids’ collection together. Contact us today for a personalized quote, style consultation, or to request free samples tailored to your brand.
At Minghang Eyewear, we combine over 20 years of manufacturing experience with full OEM/ODM support, certified production, and a wide range of kid-friendly styles. Contact us for a quote, a free consult, or to get samples that fit your brand.
