Velvet Eyewear

Overview

Date Established	07/1999
Founder	Cindy Hussey
Industries	Health & Wellness Travel & Tourism Fitness E-commerce & Retail Fashion Beauty Lifestyle
Website	https://velveteyewear.com/
Social

About

Velvet Eyewear® is a women’s luxury eyewear and accessory brand founded in 1999 by optician and designer Cindy Hussey. We offer sunglasses, prescription glasses, blue light glasses, snow goggles, and our signature Sunglass Style Boxes—each designed to fit and flatter the female face.

Rooted in iconic American fashion and culture, Velvet blends timeless style, full UV protection, and modern comfort. Each style is hand-finished using high-quality materials, crafted in the finest factories, and proudly designed in the USA for women.

Designed for Women—Since Day One

Velvet was created to be a true women’s brand—not a unisex frame painted pink. Every detail is thoughtfully designed for the female face. Cindy, our founder, brings optics expertise since 1987 and a creative heritage steeped in European artistry. Her trained eye shapes every aspect of our products—from frame shape and fit to color palettes and comfort.

Feminine without fuss. Sexy yet sophisticated. Relaxed and refined. Learn more about our founder, Cindy Hussey.

Sustainability That Feels Right

We fulfill all orders in-house to reduce waste and avoid unnecessary packaging. Our shipping process is streamlined to lower emissions, and we use recyclable, responsibly sourced materials whenever possible.

We also offer a Recycle Program. Customers can send back any Velvet product to be recycled responsibly and receive rewards for participating.

Giving Back

We are passionate about supporting children, the arts, and veterans. Our brand proudly contributes to organizations like Dress for Success, Wine, Women & Shoes, local Veterans Hospitals, Boys & Girls Clubs, and Materials for the Arts. Giving back is woven into the heart of who we are.

Our brand philosophy is built on a simple, powerful idea: art shapes how we see the world. We believe this creative vision should be accessible to everyone. To put this mission into action, we established the Velvet Foundation for the Arts, our official non-profit organization dedicated to supporting arts education. Through the foundation, we are proud to help nurture the next generation of artists and designers. You can learn more about our work and the foundation's heritage at VLAF.org

Growth & Evolution

In 2003, Velvet was acquired by K2 Sports, where Cindy continued designing female-specific eyewear and accessories.

By 2010, Velvet had relocated to New York City and was re-acquired by Cindy. During this time, she also led eyewear design for brands like Trina Turk, Milly, Judith Leiber, and Beverly Hills Polo Club, while rebuilding Velvet with a renewed focus on women’s design.

In 2018, Velvet moved to Boca Raton, Florida. The fresh coastal energy inspired new collections and helped grow our community of Velvet women from coast to coast.

Founding Story

A Clear Vision for Style, Confidence, and Accessibility

Cindy Hussey launched Velvet Eyewear® in 1999 with a simple idea — that eyewear should make women feel beautiful, confident, and comfortable without being out of reach. She built Velvet around the belief that great design doesn’t have to be expensive and that every woman deserves frames that fit her face, her life, and her sense of style. Most importantly, eyewear shouldn’t be a man’s design painted in a feminine color. It should be created for women from the start — thoughtfully proportioned, flattering, and made with genuine care.

After establishing Velvet as a respected name in the industry, Cindy sold the brand to K2, the ski and lifestyle company. During the years that followed, she designed eyewear collections for several leading fashion houses and luxury labels, including Trina Turk, Milly, Judith Leiber, and Beverly Hills Polo Club. Those experiences gave her a deeper understanding of how to balance design, comfort, and quality — lessons that would later define the next chapter of Velvet.

In 2010, Cindy bought Velvet back and relaunched it with a renewed purpose: to make beautiful eyewear that women can afford to update more often. She challenged the old rule that you should wear the same pair for years, believing instead that eyewear should evolve with your wardrobe, your mood, and your life.

“The idea that you need to keep one pair of glasses for two or three years is outdated. Eyewear should be fresh, fun, and part of how you express yourself.”

— Cindy Hussey, Founder & Creative Director

From the corporate headquarters in Florida, Cindy leads a team that shares her passion for creating eyewear that feels as good as they looks. Her “Shop by Face Shape” concept continues to help women find eyewear that truly flatters, while Velvet’s collections keep growing — offering timeless design, accessible prices, and everyday confidence in every pair.