As Statista’s 2023 data verifies, the value of world women’s sunglasses market was 23.7 billion US dollars, whose 35% sales were gained by white frame models, a 12% increase from 2021. This factor is usable directly in color psychology research: White can lighten the face visually up to 20%-30% (Color Research and Application journal), and is particularly suited to Asian women (48% of worldwide consumers of white sunglasses) because it has the ability to cancel the yellow warm color shift of yellow skin colors (ΔE≤3.5 RGB scale comparison analysis). For example, Ray-Ban and Gucci launched together the white acetate fiber frame model, during the first month of the market to achieve 24,000 units of sales, the customer price is 18% higher than the black model, to bear witness to premium potential of the market of white sunglasses women.
According to the design requirements, the reflectivity of the white frame (around 80%-85%) is significantly larger than that of the black model (5%-10%), and it can reduce the secondary ultraviolet reflection of the eye, and the filtration rate of harmful light can be increased to 99.7% with the UV400 protective coating. According to the L’Oreal Group survey, 72% of female customers believe “lightness” in white glasses is only suitable for summer wear, especially if the weather goes above 28 ° C, and there’s an increase in white searches by 40% than the previous month (Google Trends 2022). Take Gentle Monster, whose white frame is made of ultra-lightweight TR90 material (only 18g) and the mirror leg width is fixed at 5mm, 30% less than the original. It was the topmost product on fashion bloggers’ Instagram summer feeds (with the hashtag #whitesunglasseswomen being used more than 12,000 times a day).
Compared to NPD, the penetration rate of the white sunglasses for the female workplace market grew from 9% in 2019 to 22% in 2023, through their “low aggressive color temperature” benefit (color temperature value 5500K-6000K) in workplace communication. Tiffany & Co.’s white titanium frames, for example, are $450, a 35% increase, but female executives still buy them 41% of the time. Further, the innovations in the dirt-resistant technology of the white frame (e.g., 3M’s nanohydrophobic coating) have extended its cleaning cycle to 7 days from 3 days and reduced maintenance costs by 57%, further shaping consumer preference.
As far as social media conversion rates are concerned, TikTok platform statistics reveal that women in white sunglasses boast an average click-through rate (CTR) of 7.8%, greater than 5.2% for other colors of frames, and user stay time is enhanced by 23 seconds. Dior capitalized on this trend to launch a white gradient lens sunglasses limited edition during summer 2023, combined with AR virtual try on technology, driving peak website traffic to 14,000 visits per second, and GMV conversion rate increased to 4.7%. Fittingly, 39% of female Gen Z respondents between the ages of 18 and 24 preferred white frames overall, significantly higher than among millennials (27%), and were strongly positively associated with consumption behavior and the “visual Clarity Index” VSI model the MIT Media Lab developed (r=0.82).
Supply chain statistics also validate this movement: White frame orders increased from 18% in 2020 to 41% in 2023 for Sunglass producers in Dongguan, China, while automated spraying activities increased the yield from 78% to 93%, decreasing the cost per unit by $12. Green rules such as the EU REACH regulation have pushed the use of white waterborne coatings from 45% to 68% and further lowered VOC emissions to 31ppm. Through consumer research, 67% of women consumers would pay 10% to 15% more for white sunglasses that are sustainable, therefore giving a net profit margin of up to 28% for brands.
Whether it is the optical quality, aesthetic matching or commercial benefit, white sunglasses women have become a cross-scene demand type. The share of white frames among female luxury sunglasses will account for more than 50% in 2025, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%-11.5%, and becoming an important battleground for brand technological upgrading and user mental ownership.