Lip Sunglasses S/S 2026 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Sunglasses S/S 2026 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Lip
Interviewee: Graham Saunders, CEO

How have your sales been in 2025 so far?
Sales in 2025 have rebounded well after the challenges of 2024. While this year has presented its own hurdles with rapid shifts in global trade and the implementation of tariffs and barriers to trade, we’ve adapted swiftly and have kept our momentum.

What are the key trends in sunglasses for board sports for Spring/Summer 2026?
For Spring/Summer 2026, the trend is clear: riders want eyewear that looks good and performs as hard as they do. That translates into greater choice, more customization, interchangeable lenses, and continuous gains in frame durability and accessory performance.

Which segment of your 2025 offering is selling best and why?
In 2025, the Typhoon has had a stellar year — it’s our flagship model and often the go-to for riders looking for the very best out there. In other seasons the Surge has taken the spotlight, which underlines the strength of our core line-up. And before the year is out, we’ll be launching the new Tide model — a fresh contender built for all boardsports that we’re excited to bring into the mix

What frame shapes and colours will you offer in your SS26 collection?
Alongside our existing Watershades, we’re introducing the Tide as a fourth core model – which is central to our 2026 collection. It’s designed for women, men, and youth with slimmer faces, but also for riders who simply prefer a smaller, retro-inspired frame style. It comes with a fresh range of colours and lens configurations, and later in the year the Ripple will follow — adding yet another dimension to our watersports line-up.

What lens technologies will you offer in your SS26 collection?
Our lens program is already one of the most comprehensive in watersports eyewear – covering fixed tints for consistent clarity, polarized lenses to cut glare, and photochromic options that adapt as the light changes. For SS26, we’re raising the bar again by introducing polarized + photochromic lenses in our plano range – a combination we’ve successfully offered in prescription lenses for years. This brings athletes the best of both worlds: polarization that eliminates surface glare and enhances contrast, paired with a tint that adjusts in real time to shifting conditions. It’s a significant step forward in giving riders lenses that are sharper, more adaptable, and more reliable than ever before.

Which lens colours and tints will you be offering in SS26?
For SS26 we’re expanding our palette with new mirror coatings including two pink options, part of our move to create a more female-friendly range. At the same time, we’ve increased the use of rose as a base colour — widely regarded as the best tint for contrast and colour enhancement on the water. Rose as a base and pink as a mirror will define 2026, supported by our core copper, smoke, brown, and violet bases that continue to give riders trusted performance across all conditions.

Any new sustainable practices in your production and shipping processes?
Sustainability is built into every part of our 2026 program. All of the ZEISS lenses we supply are now produced with renewable energy, up to 39% bio-based raw materials, and processes that cut CO₂ emissions by as much as 50%. On the frame side, we’re rolling out bio-based options to reduce dependence on fossil plastics.

What are your SS26 marketing stories?
Our SS26 stories are still taking shape, but key themes include eye health on the water, the protection of our oceans, and support for the communities that promote education and conservation. These are the values that guide our brand, and they’ll continue to shape the way we tell our story in 2026.

How will you support retailers to sell this category?
We’re building a QR code system to support both retailers and riders. By reducing printed packaging, we cut waste — but more importantly, QR codes give instant access to product information, care instructions, and lens/frame compatibility guides. For retailers, this means less time spent researching and explaining specs and more time helping customers find the right model. For riders, it ensures they always have aftercare and support at their fingertips.

Key Products:

TYPHOON:
Our flagship Typhoon model has become the reference point in our range. It comprises a lightweight frame with a retention system that simply doesn’t let go, and is paired with ZEISS polarized or ecLiPse photochromic lenses for uncompromising optics. What riders tell us they value the most about this model is its comfort and versatility in a wide range of activities.

Typhoon

SURGE:
The Surge takes the DNA of the Typhoon and delivers it in a more accessible package. It carries the same functional core — secure fit, water-shedding optics, and all-day comfort — but with a design and price point that open it up to a wider audience. It’s especially popular in high-impact watersports like kiteboarding, surfing, and windsurfing, where riders need performance eyewear they can trust while they stay focused on the ride.

Surge

FLO:
The FLO is designed for lighter days on the water — SUP, sailing, or fishing. It carries the same optical pedigree as the Typhoon and Surge, but with a strapless, unsinkable floating frame that makes it simple and worry-free. For riders who don’t need the full retention systems of our high-wind models, it’s the perfect balance of performance, ease, and peace of mind.

Flo