Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull will feature in the upcoming Nike performance campaigns.
Leading eyewear distributor Marchon has unveiled a comprehensive spring/summer 2026 collection to key accounts at an exclusive showcase in Sydney.
Turning its inner Sydney city headquarters into a multi-level showroom, this was the first time the company has displayed its complete global range alongside products selected for the local market.
A standout among many of Marchon’s collections was Nike’s new Legacy Collection, featuring two core styles – the Nike 1000 and Nike 1001 – each available in six eye sizes ranging from 48 mm to 59 mm. Inspired by Nike’s iconic Dunk sneakers, which span children’s through adult sizing, this new collection aims to deliver “style, performance and comfort for all”.
The collection features eight bold crystal colours and includes innovative sizing technology with eye sizes clearly marked on demonstration lenses, eliminating guesswork during dispensing. Premium acetate construction ensures all-day comfort, while the signature Nike swoosh appears subtly on temples alongside four-wire temple designs for secure fit.
“A selection of frames, sizes, and colours are presented in a format similar to a Nike shoe box,” explained Brad Saffin, Managing Director of Marchon Australia. “The collection enables optical dispensers to present an exciting product story to their patients that is inclusive and curated for all – children to adults, female, male and unisex – offering a full-size range at competitive price points to ensure the perfect fit.”
The collection incorporates sustainable elements with recycled acrylic demonstration lenses, reinforcing Nike’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
A selection of frames, sizes, and colours are presented in a format similar to a Nike shoe box
Brand Partnerships Drive Performance Focus
Marchon announced its collaboration with Nike sponsored athlete, Jessica Hull, the silver medallist in the 1,500 metres at the Tokyo Olympics, who will feature in upcoming Nike performance eyewear campaigns. The partnership underscores Nike’s position as Marchon’s largest brand, particularly strong in performance and lifestyle categories.
New Nike performance ranges include advanced shield designs with interchangeable lenses suitable for prescription fitting, targeting both optical channels and sports retail markets.
Luxury Brands Embrace Oversized Trends
The showcase revealed a strong trend towards oversized frames across premium brands. Longchamp’s September release features larger silhouettes with the brand’s emblems and icons continuing to directly inspire the eyewear collection appealing to both young and mature women, while Ferragamo’s new collection reinterprets the brand’s signature hardware elements by incorporating the Gancini chain into the frame temple.
Lacoste presented refined foldable magnetic sunglass options that eliminate traditional clip-on styling issues. The lightweight design folds in half and includes custom pouching, representing a significant improvement over previous magnetic technology.
Calvin Klein’s latest collection for local sales, focusses on classic styles with broad appeal for both men and women. Paying homage to styles that remained iconic through the years, it features signature metal hardware and tailored design elements such as custom core wire and quality acetates.
Meanwhile Paul Smith, which is renowned for its individualised approach to design and craftsmanship, has evolved with bolder designs. Positioned within the luxury designer space, Paul Smith’s values of highest quality and authenticity drive the distribution strategy that is exclusive to selected premium retailers worldwide, Mr Saffin said “every individual stockist undergoes review to ensure we are selecting the right doors that reflect Paul Smith’s strong brand ethos and positioning.”
And then there was Coast, Marchon’s Australian-designed and developed entry-level brand, which has expanded both its optical and sunglass categories, with fashion forward frames all embellished with ocean-inspired elements including palm tree logos, wave-pattern metal cores, and water-drop temple tips.
New Lens Technology Debuts
VSP Optics’ new VVD lens collection addresses gaps in fashion and performance tinting options. Launching in July, the comprehensive range includes mirror coatings, relaunched polarised options, and fashion colours designed to complement frame selections.
Performance lenses within the range target specific activities like cycling and fishing, while Fashion lenses focus on aesthetic enhancement. The Built for Life category emphasises polarised and photochromic technology for everyday use.
Supporting materials include dispensing guides that pair specific lens bases with frame styles to optimise visual and aesthetic outcomes.
… the automation, the private viewings, and the comprehensive lens and frame offerings are all about making business easier, more efficient, and profitable for Marchon’s customers
Supply Chain Innovation
The company demonstrated two automation tools developed with Optomate Monkey Software: Jamboree, a web-based system that enables frames to be automatically replenished upon sale, and an automated e-invoice processing system reduces hours of manual work to minutes for busy practices.
As Mr Saffin said, the automation, the private viewings, and the comprehensive lens and frame offerings are all about making business easier, more efficient, and profitable for Marchon’s customers. “We’ve focused on efficiency and how we can help smooth the road for practice managers,” he said.
