We Are Charmant: A Proud Japanese Eyewear Corporation

Founded in Japan in 1956, Charmant is a Japanese corporation with a world-renowned status in the eyewear industry as a leader in quality, service, and technical innovation. At Charmant, we design, manufacture, and distribute spectacle frames and sunglasses under our own house brands as well as licensed brands, catering to diverse markets and target groups.

Sabae, Japan is the city that produces approximately 90% of domestically produced eyeglass frames. The story of Charmant begins in this very city, where our founder, Kaoru Horikawa, embarked on manufacturing spare parts for the optical industry. His success in this field led him to ask, “Why don’t we just make the entire product?” Thus, the Charmant Group's history unfolded as we developed innovative products and established our own brands, leading to a successful expansion of our business in Japan. By the mid-70s, our company had evolved into a flourishing producer of high-quality eyewear frames, thanks to Charmant’s comprehensive manufacturing and sales system.

In 1982, Charmant Group ventured on a global expansion beyond Japan's borders by establishing a subsidiary in the United States. This move made Charmant the first Japanese eyewear company to open a branch in another country. Charmant USA Inc. quickly developed in the US market, and became the leading subsidiary of the Charmant Group in 2021. Today, Charmant USA Inc. offers a wide variety of house and licensed brands, including Line Art Charmant, Charmant Japanese Made, Charmant Titanium Perfection, Minamoto, Aristar, Elle, Head, Isaac Mizrahi New York, Eddie Bauer, and Esprit.

With a rich history spanning over 60 years, Charmant Group stands as a leading force in the global eyewear industry. As one of the largest entities in the eyewear field, Charmant Group is distinguished by its comprehensive ownership of its supply chain, overseeing every stage from design to final delivery.

In 1980, the Charmant Group became the pioneering manufacturer to recognize the vast potential of titanium for eyewear.  Since Charmant’s foundation, it has been our vision to provide consumers with confidence and satisfaction through functional yet high quality frames. Thanks to titanium, we had the opportunity to turn this vision into reality. In 1987, Charmant became one of the pioneering eyewear manufacturers to introduce a collection of frames made entirely from titanium — a genuine breakthrough for that era.

Throughout the years, Charmant has gained extensive experience and expertise in working with titanium, successfully overcoming numerous technological challenges along the way. Charmant developed its very own titanium alloys and the machines that are needed to process the material optimally. To ensure top quality eyewear, Charmant utilizes a variety of titanium types, including pure titanium, beta titanium, Z titanium, and Excellence Titan™. Titanium offers numerous advantages, including its lightweight nature, impressive strength, long-lasting durability, resistance to corrosion, and hypoallergenic properties.

Charmant’s roots are in Japan, a country that is as diverse as it is fascinating. Although today we operate on a global scale, we stay true to our original Japanese values. 1.Tradition. Exceptional craftsmanship and know-how are deep-seated in the Japanese region of Sabae. 2.Quality. We ensure that precision and quality always take first priority in everything we do. 3.Innovation. Constantly on the pulse of current developments, we apply the latest Japanese technologies. 4. Responsibility. Respect, fairness and sustainability are at the core of our actions and behavior.

Charmant’s mission is to enhance the lives of people worldwide by providing high-quality eyewear. 1. Innovate For A Better Future. We constantly push the boundaries of our research and development with the aim of innovating to enhance our customers’ everyday lives and their futures. 2.Co-Create A Better World. As Charmant’s global network is one of its strengths, we continue to collaborate and co-create with the world to create new value in the coming era. 3. Contribute To Sustainability. Charmant positions Human Resources, Environment, Society and Governance as important aspects of all corporate undertakings and actively works to optimize them for the greater sustainable good.

Japan continues to set a high standard for its’ manufacturing capabilities, leading to consumer trust worldwide. Japanese made products are renowned for their quality and reliability, which makes them highly desirable. Charmant continues to represent our Japanese roots, with our passion for eyewear, the spirit of innovation, and the ever-new challenges we seek.