Polaroid Eyewear
Polaroid Eyewear offers polarized sunglasses and lenses including optical frames, reading glasses, and clip-on lenses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1937
- HeadquartersPadova, Italy
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Polaroid Eyewear does
Polaroid Eyewear is a heritage eyewear brand headquartered in Padova, Italy, owned and operated by Safilo Group, a global player in the premium and luxury eyewear sector. Founded in 1937 (with the Polaroid brand originally established through instant photography), the company designs and sells polarized sunglasses, optical frames, reading glasses, and clip-on lenses across men's, women's, kids', and unisex segments at price points ranging from €29 to €129. The brand operates a horizontal mass-market positioning targeting everyday wearers, sports participants, and consumers seeking UV and glare protection.
The company's core technology centers on proprietary polarized lens technology that blocks horizontal light reflections causing glare on surfaces like water, roads, or snow, providing clearer and more comfortable vision. Every pair of glasses features these polarized lenses. The product portfolio includes multiple style collections (Contemporary, Gummy, Sport/Active), seasonal refresh lines (Spring Summer 2026), and exclusive collections including the ATP Special Edition co-branded line with the ATP Tour. The company also offers a Virtual Try-On augmented reality feature for online fitting of both sunglasses and optical frames, addressing the e-commerce fit barrier.
Polaroid Eyewear generates revenue primarily through direct-to-consumer hardware sales via its official e-commerce store (operating across Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and the UK in EUR and GBP currencies) and through a physical retail store locator network. The brand markets through a multi-channel approach spanning Instagram and Facebook organic social, an email newsletter offering 15% off first purchase, and sports marketing via its flagship ATP Tour partnership through 2027 (covering tournaments including Mutua Madrid Open, Internazionali BNL d'Italia, and Swedish Open), with Italian tennis player Lorenzo Musetti serving as 2025 brand ambassador. Free shipping above €40 and free returns support the DTC motion. The brand does not operate on subscription or recurring revenue mechanics; revenue is transactional unit-pricing across consumer segments.
Polaroid Eyewear firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Polaroid Eyewear
- Website
- https://www.polaroideyewear.com/en
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1937
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Polaroid Eyewear offers polarized sunglasses and lenses including optical frames, reading glasses, and clip-on lenses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Polaroid Eyewear industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Eyewear
- NAICS
- Optical Goods Retailers (456130)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sunglasses (Non-Prescription) (CRAAAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sport & Performance Eyewear (CRAAAKAC), Reading Glasses (OTC) (CRAAAKAG)
Keywords
Where Polaroid Eyewear is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Padova
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Polaroid Eyewear business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Eyewear Product Sales: One-time purchase model for polarized sunglasses, optical glasses, readers, and kids eyewear. Products sold at various price points ranging from €29 to €129 depending on product type and features.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sunglasses for all genders and ages with polarized lenses |
| Others | One time | Newsletter subscription for discounts |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Polaroid Eyewear product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Polaroid Eyewear designs, manufactures, and sells polarized sunglasses, prescription optical frames, and reading glasses for men, women, kids, and unisex consumers. The company distributes its products directly to consumers through its official e-commerce website and physical retail stores across Europe and the UK. Every pair of glasses includes proprietary polarized lens technology that reduces glare from horizontal light reflections on water, roads, and snow.
Product overview
Polaroid Eyewear is a eyewear brand owned by Safilo Group, offering a comprehensive portfolio of polarised sunglasses, optical frames, and readers. The product line spans multiple segments including men's, women's, kids', and unisex categories, organized into style collections (Contemporary, Gummy, Sport/Active) and exclusive collections (ATP Special Edition, Online Exclusive Models). Core products feature proprietary polarisation technology that eliminates glare, with added digital features including Virtual Try On for online fitting. The brand operates globally with e-commerce operations across European markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ATP Special Edition: Special edition sunglasses created in collaboration with ATP Tour, featuring exclusive models for tennis enthusiasts.
Products and services
- Sunglasses Polarized sunglasses sold across men's, women's, kids', and unisex segments, with polarized lenses on every pair to reduce glare and provide clear, comfortable vision and UV protection.
- Optical Frames Prescription optical frames providing vision correction with contemporary Polaroid Eyewear design, available in men's, women's, kids', and unisex collections.
- Readers Ready-made reading glasses for vision correction, part of the Polaroid Eyewear optical eyewear product line.
- ATP Special Edition Sunglasses Limited-edition polarized sunglasses collection created in collaboration with the ATP Tour, featuring special edition models with ATP branding for tennis enthusiasts.
- Spring Summer 2026 Collection Seasonal polarized eyewear collection featuring the latest styles for spring and summer 2026.
- Online Exclusive Models Sunglasses models available exclusively through the Polaroid Eyewear online store, including PLD EXCLUSIVE 1, PLD EXCLUSIVE 2, and PLD EXCLUSIVE 3.
- Sport/Active Collection Performance polarized eyewear designed for active and sport lifestyles, featuring durable frames.
Companies that use Polaroid Eyewear
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Polaroid Eyewear technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Polaroid Eyewear partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- ATP TourflagshipPolaroid Eyewear is the official eyewear partner of ATP Tour through 2027. The partnership provides exclusive visibility rights at major tournaments including the Mutua Madrid Open, Internazionali BNL d'Italia, and Swedish Open. Activations include court-side presence, branded fan areas, and year-round digital and social media presence on ATP Tour channels. The partnership aims to attract new customers and strengthen Polaroid Eyewear's global brand image.
- Safilo GroupcoreSafilo Group is the parent company and owner of Polaroid Eyewear brand. Safilo is a leading global player in the premium and luxury eyewear sector, designing, manufacturing, and distributing eyeglass frames, sunglasses, and sports eyewear.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Polaroid Eyewear competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ray-Ban: Ray-Ban is the leading global polarized and non-polarized sunglasses brand, owned by EssilorLuxottica, and is the most direct comparable to Polaroid Eyewear in terms of mass-premium positioning, polarized lens emphasis, and broad multi-segment product range.
- Maui Jim: Maui Jim specializes in premium polarized sunglasses with proprietary lens technology, directly comparable to Polaroid Eyewear's polarization-led value proposition at a higher price tier.
- Oakley: Oakley is a leading sport and performance eyewear brand owned by EssilorLuxottica, directly comparable to Polaroid Eyewear's Sport/Active collection and polarized lens positioning.
- Carrera: Carrera is another Safilo Group-owned eyewear brand with sport-inspired heritage and mass-premium positioning, making it a direct sister-brand peer of Polaroid Eyewear.
- Smith Optics: Smith Optics, also owned by Safilo Group, focuses on outdoor and performance sunglasses and goggles, comparable to Polaroid Eyewear's polarized sport-active positioning.
- Arnette: Arnette is a lifestyle and action-sports sunglasses brand owned by EssilorLuxottica, comparable to Polaroid Eyewear in mass-market polarized sunglasses for sport-influenced consumers.
- Bollé: Bollé is a sport and performance eyewear and helmet brand, directly comparable to Polaroid Eyewear's Sport/Active collection in target use cases and feature positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Persol: Persol is an Italian heritage eyewear brand owned by EssilorLuxottica, comparable to Polaroid Eyewear as a broader Italian-anchored eyewear house, though positioned at a higher price tier.
- Tom Ford Eyewear: Tom Ford Eyewear is a luxury designer eyewear line distributed by Marcolin, comparable to Polaroid Eyewear as a designer-led eyewear brand, though positioned in the luxury price tier.
- Prada Eyewear: Prada Eyewear is a luxury designer eyewear line produced by Luxottica, comparable to Polaroid Eyewear as another Italian-anchored eyewear brand operating in the global designer category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Polaroid Eyewear social profiles
Digital presencePolaroid Eyewear financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Polaroid Eyewear leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Polaroid Eyewear funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Polaroid Eyewear M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Polaroid Eyewear
What does Polaroid Eyewear do?
Polaroid Eyewear designs, manufactures, and sells polarized sunglasses, prescription optical frames, and reading glasses for men, women, kids, and unisex consumers. The company distributes its products directly to consumers through its official e-commerce website and physical retail stores across Europe and the UK. Every pair of glasses includes proprietary polarized lens technology that reduces glare from horizontal light reflections on water, roads, and snow.
Is Polaroid Eyewear a public or private company?
Polaroid Eyewear is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Polaroid Eyewear founded?
Polaroid Eyewear was founded in 1937. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Polaroid Eyewear based?
Polaroid Eyewear is headquartered in Padova, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Polaroid Eyewear make money?
One revenue line is on record: eyewear Product Sales.
Who are Polaroid Eyewear's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ray-Ban, Maui Jim, Oakley, Carrera, Smith Optics, Arnette and Bollé. Broad incumbents are Persol, Tom Ford Eyewear and Prada Eyewear.
Does Polaroid Eyewear have an API?
No public API is recorded for Polaroid Eyewear.
What industry is Polaroid Eyewear in?
Polaroid Eyewear's product category is Eyewear. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAAKAB, Sunglasses (Non-Prescription), with a secondary code of CRAAAKAC, Sport & Performance Eyewear. Its NAICS code is 456130 and its SIC code is 3851.