Bolon continues to expand in travel retail with new Changi listing

SINGAPORE. Essilor International has expanded its partnership with DFS Group with a new listing for its Bolon sunglass brand at Changi Airport Terminal 3. This is the company’s second Singapore location, following the first at DFS’s downtown T Galleria Singapore.

As reported, the ophthalmic optics company is mounting a major travel retail push behind Bolon, said to be one of the leading sunglass brands in China, with 4.5 million frames sold last year. Positioned in the affordable luxury, mid-range segment (with a retail price of about US$120), the brand is designed and manufactured by China’s Xiamen Yarui Optical, which was acquired by Essilor in November 2013.

The partnership with DFS, which began early this year with the launch of Bolon’s 2015 sunwear collection at select DFS airport stores and downtown Gallerias, aims to reinforce the brand’s leading position among Chinese consumers.

Essilor expands its travel retail footprint in Singapore with the new Changi T3 location

Essilor International Vice President Duty Free & Special Distribution Francesco Leccisi said: “Essilor is very excited to start its adventure at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 with Bolon. This confirms once again the power of the brand with its captive consumers and underlines the strong partnership with our loyal partner DFS.”

Some of the sunglass models showcased at Terminal 3 feature Essilor’s Eye-Sun Protection Factor (E-SPF) technology, a new index certifying the global ultraviolet (UV) protection of the lens.

Similar to the protection index used to rate the efficiency of skincare and sunscreen products against UV rays, a higher E-SPF translates to a higher level of UV protection. An E-SPF 15 index means that the global UV protection of a lens is 15 times better than the naked eye, Essilor explained.

Essilor has developed a E-SPF index certifying the global UV protection of the lens
Food & Beverage The Magazine eZine