Meta and eyewear group EssilorLuxottica plan to work together on smart glasses “into the next decade.” The two today announced a long-term agreement to extend a partnership that began in 2019 and has produced two generations of Ray-Ban smart glasses.
Through the collaboration, Meta was able to create smart glasses that stand out for their style
So far, the collaboration has helped Meta create smart glasses that stand out for their style. It looks like Meta wants to continue this trend with the next generations of frames. In addition to Ray-Ban, EssilorLuxottica also owns Oakley and has licensing agreements with luxury brands such as Versace, Prada, Chanel and others.
“I'm excited about our long-term roadmap. We have the opportunity to make eyewear the next big technology platform and make it fashionable in the process,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a press release.
More than any other gadget, smart glasses need to look stylish. Humanity is vain. If the eyes are the window to the soul, then of course you want your glasses to be a charming pair of curtains. Ray Ban is great for this because it's an iconic fashion brand, and Wayfarers are as flattering as any other frame. If you don't look good in them, you won't wear them.
Snap is expected to unveil the fifth generation of its Spectacles at a summit in Los Angeles today. Meta will also likely present its new AR glasses at a conference in Menlo Park, California, next week, according to The Verge website Alex Heath.