Luxottica-Essilor Tariff Decision

Posted in Anacortes, Bellingham, Eye-Opening, Mount Vernon, Practice News, Sedro-Woolley, Stanwood, Whidbey

You may notice a reduced selection of Oakley and Ray-Ban products at Cascadia Eye. This is not due to supply chain shortages, but rather a conscious decision on our part.

Luxottica-Essilor, the parent company of Oakley, Ray-Ban, and many other well-known eyewear brands, has a significant global manufacturing footprint, with factories strategically located to minimize the impact of tariffs. Of all the eyewear companies we work with, they are the best-positioned to avoid raising prices — yet they were the first to do so, choosing to increase their wholesale prices by 6%, even though their operational flexibility would have allowed them to absorb these costs far better than smaller, independent designers.

Meanwhile, many independent eyewear brands — who are far more vulnerable to current tariffs, particularly on goods from China — are either maintaining prices or passing along only the exact tariff-related costs to customers, without profiteering.

In our view, Luxottica’s decision prioritizes profit over fairness during a time of real pressure on smaller brands and customers alike. As a result, we have chosen to significantly limit our purchases from Luxottica in favor of supporting independent designers who are acting with integrity.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding. We are committed to offering you eyewear from brands that align with our values — and yours.