Wholesale Cat Eye Sunglasses
The cat eye never goes out of style. Seriously -- Audrey Hepburn wore them in the '60s and they're still the #1 women's sunglasses shape today. We manufacture cat eye frames in acetate, metal, and mixed materials with full OEM customization. Your logo, your colors, your brand -- our factory.
Why Cat Eye Outsells Everything Else
Here's a fact that surprises people: the cat eye shape has been the bestselling women's sunglasses silhouette for over 70 years. Not the aviator. Not the wayfarer. The cat eye. Why? Because it does something no other shape can -- it lifts. That upswept angle creates the illusion of higher cheekbones and a more defined jawline. It's basically a mini facelift you can buy for $15.
The shape was invented in 1939 by a New York designer named Altina Schinasi who was tired of "ugly" eyeglasses. She called them "Harlequin" frames. Marilyn Monroe made them famous. Audrey Hepburn made them iconic. And now, in 2024, they're bigger than ever -- literally. The oversized cat eye is dominating Instagram, TikTok, and every fashion week from Milan to Seoul.
For wholesale buyers, cat eye sunglasses are about as close to a sure thing as eyewear gets. They appeal across age groups (20-60+), work year-round, and carry strong perceived value. All our cat eye frames meet FDA UV protection standards -- because looking great shouldn't mean compromising on eye safety. Our factory moves over 200,000 cat eye frames per month across 40+ countries. We know this shape inside and out.
The Collection
Classic Black Cat Eye
The one every collection needs. Black acetate, polished hinges, that perfect upswept angle. It's the sunglasses equivalent of a little black dress -- works with everything, sells to everyone. This is consistently our #1 reorder across all markets.
Leopard Print Cat Eye
Animal print done right. The tortoiseshell pattern isn't painted on -- it's created by layering different colored acetate sheets, so each pair has genuine depth and richness. A boutique owner in Melbourne told us these outsell solid colors 2-to-1 during spring.
Rose Gold Metal Cat Eye
Slim metal frame with rose gold electroplating that looks like it should cost $200. It doesn't. The thin wire construction gives a modern, refined take on the cat eye -- perfect for the professional woman who wants style without shouting about it. Pairs beautifully with both blazers and beach cover-ups.
Oversized Cat Eye
Go big or go home. The oversized cat eye is basically Instagram bait -- bold proportions, dramatic upswept tips, maximum face coverage. One online retailer told us this style gets more "where did you get those?" comments than anything else in their store. Great UV coverage too, which is a nice bonus.
Rhinestone Cat Eye
For the woman who treats sunglasses as jewelry. Hand-set crystals along the brow line and temple tips catch the light in a way that stops people mid-conversation. We offer clear, colored, and Swarovski-grade stones. These sell like crazy at resort shops, bridal boutiques, and party-themed retailers.
Vintage Cat Eye
Straight out of 1958. Narrow, sharply angled, with thick acetate temples that say "I know my fashion history." These are smaller than the oversized trend -- intentionally. Collectors and vintage enthusiasts snap these up. If your market skews retro, rockabilly, or pin-up, this is your frame.
Acetate vs. Metal vs. Mixed -- Which One's Right?
🏛️ Acetate
If you want to charge premium retail prices, go acetate. It's made from cotton and wood pulp (yes, really), and the colors and patterns you can achieve are unreal -- deep tortoiseshell, marble swirls, translucent candy tones. Each pair gets hand-polished for that glossy finish. Acetate feels expensive. Your customers will notice. Hypoallergenic too, so no complaints about skin reactions.
- • Rich colors -- tortoise, marble, gradient
- • Hand-polished premium finish
- • Hypoallergenic, eco-friendly
- • Best for: boutiques, luxury positioning
⚙️ Metal
Thin, sleek, modern. Metal cat eyes use stainless steel or nickel-free alloy with electroplated finishes -- gold, silver, rose gold, matte black. The slim profile creates a refined look that acetate can't match. These are the frames for women who want their sunglasses to whisper, not shout. Great for professional and office-wear lines. Lighter than acetate too -- most weigh under 22 grams.
- • Slim, elegant, lightweight (under 22g)
- • Gold, silver, rose gold finishes
- • Nickel-free options available
- • Best for: office wear, minimalist brands
🔗 Mixed Material
The best of both worlds. Acetate front with thin metal temples -- or vice versa. The two-tone material contrast is trending hard right now. Think: transparent pink acetate front with thin gold arms. Or black acetate with silver wire temples. These are the frames that make people stop and ask "where did you get those?" Currently our fastest-growing category.
- • Trendy two-tone aesthetic
- • Creative design possibilities
- • Fastest-growing category in 2024
- • Best for: trend-driven brands, DTC
What Colors Are Selling Right Now
🔥 Hot This Season
Burgundy & Wine
Deep, warm tones killing it in fall/winter. Pair with brown gradient lenses for that cozy luxury vibe.
Soft Pink & Blush
Still going strong. Clear pink acetate is the single fastest-growing color in women's eyewear right now.
Forest Green
The surprise hit of the year. A sophisticated alternative to tortoiseshell that nobody expected.
Transparent / Crystal
See-through frames in clear, champagne, light gray. Been trending for 3 years and showing no signs of slowing.
📊 The Evergreens (Always Reorder)
Classic Black
30-35% of all cat eye orders. Always. Every. Season. Stock it or regret it.
Tortoiseshell
The #2 seller. Multi-tonal browns work year-round, with everyone, everywhere.
Gold Metal
Essential for any luxury or professional line. Gold cat eyes scream sophistication.
Gradient Two-Tone
Frames that fade from one color to another -- black to clear, pink to peach. Very Instagram.
Specs
| Spec | Acetate | Metal | Mixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lens Width | 52-58mm | 54-60mm | 53-58mm |
| Bridge | 16-20mm | 14-18mm | 15-19mm |
| Temple Length | 140-145mm | 140-145mm | 140-145mm |
| Weight | 28-35g | 18-24g | 22-30g |
| Lens | CR-39 / TAC | CR-39 / Nylon | CR-39 / TAC |
| UV | UV400 | UV400 | UV400 |
| Hinge | 5-barrel / Spring | Flex spring | 5-barrel / Spring |
| Nose Pads | Integrated keyhole | Adjustable silicone | Adjustable silicone |
More Styles Worth a Look
Your Questions, Straight Answers
Which face shapes work with cat eye?
Almost all of them, honestly. Cat eye is one of the most forgiving shapes out there. Oval face? Perfect. Round face? The upswept angles add definition -- looks great. Heart-shaped? Ideal match. Square face? Go with a softer, more rounded cat eye to balance the angles. The only face shape that can be tricky is very long/narrow faces, where an oversized cat eye might overwhelm. But even then, a petite cat eye works fine.
What's the MOQ for custom branded cat eyes?
100 pieces per color for our existing designs. Want your own custom mold, Pantone-matched colors, and branded packaging? That's 300 pieces per style. Pro tip: you can mix different cat eye styles in one order to hit the minimum. So you could do 100 black classic + 100 leopard + 100 rose gold = 300 total. We're flexible.
Can these be made prescription-ready?
Yep! All our acetate and metal cat eyes can ship with demo lenses so optical shops can pop in prescription lenses. We accommodate single vision, bifocal, and progressive prescriptions. The frame depth and lens curvature are designed for it. This is a great upsell for optical retailers -- fashion frames with Rx capability.
What's trending in cat eye for 2024-2025?
Big trends right now: oversized proportions (bigger is better), transparent/crystal acetate (especially pink and champagne), mixed materials (acetate front + metal arms), geometric angular cat eyes (less curved, more edgy), and soft pastels like lavender and sage green. The Y2K narrow cat eye revival is also still going strong with younger buyers. We track these trends every season and update our catalog accordingly.
Can I get samples before committing to a bulk order?
Of course -- we'd never expect you to order blind. Existing catalog styles? Free samples, you just cover shipping (usually $30-50 via DHL for 3-5 pairs). Want a custom sample with your specific modifications? Small fee of $50-100 per design, which we credit back to your first production order. So you're basically getting custom samples for free if you order. Turnaround is 7-10 days.
Ready to Stock the Shape That Sells Itself?
Boutiques, online stores, brand distributors -- we work with all of them. Our women's cat eye wholesale program gives you competitive pricing, fast production, and full customization. Grab a free catalog and see what's possible.