Luca de Meo, CEO of Kering, confirmed that Gucci-branded smart glasses powered by Google are set to launch next year. The eyewear maker, which produces Gucci glasses, builds on a partnership with Android XR announced a year ago. This move signals growing interest from fashion brands in smart eyewear.
Luca de Meo, CEO of Kering, told Reuters on Thursday that Gucci-branded, Google-powered Android XR smart glasses will arrive next year. Kering, which manufactures eyewear for Gucci and other brands, revealed its Android XR partnership a year earlier, marking an acceleration in fashion-tech collaborations. De Meo highlighted the development amid a surge in smart glasses from tech giants and fashion houses alike. Google plans to debut its own smart glasses this year in partnership with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Meta has released multiple models, including Oakley-branded sports eyewear and Ray-Ban variants through EssilorLuxottica. Reebok offers prescription-ready smart eyewear with Lucyd, and reports suggest Prada may follow Gucci. The trend echoes the smartwatch boom around 2017, when brands like Tag Heuer, Montblanc, and Fossil partnered with Android Wear, now Wear OS. Over time, tech brands dominated that market. Apple is expected to launch its own smart glasses next year, potentially with fashion tie-ins similar to its Hermès and Nike Apple Watch bands. Industry observers note a push for prescription-friendly models to broaden appeal beyond standard eyewear users.
