IWhen you buy glasses from an independent eyewear company:

1. You’re solely paying for the product and not the brand.
2. Smaller brands must utilize quality and creativity to stand out, without relying on the name brand.
3. Your purchase supports independent companies instead of large, publicly traded companies.

You may be aware (thanks to a certain 60 Minutes special) that one company – Luxottica, owns a large majority of the most well-known eyewear brands. By relying on the popularity of the brands it licenses (Prada, Versace, Oakley, Chanel, and many others), they are able to push products on consumers who identify with the lifestyle associated with the brands. In reality, all of the brands are made in-house by Luxottica and sold at Luxottica storefronts (Lenscrafters, Sunglass Hut) – so they are able to put a high sticker price on the product.