Blue Elephant is the latest major Korean brand to make waves in the U.S. They make cool, vintage-inspired eyewear beloved by K-pop idols, including J-Hope. This has helped them become a massive success in the eyewear industry!
Thanks to their expanding fanbase, Blue Elephant sunglasses are coming stateside. Their first store is opening in none other than Beverly Hills. Is this a sign of global expansion?
How Did Blue Elephant Eyewear Get So Big?
The Seoul-based brand was founded in 2019, which makes it even more impressive that they’re already opening stores in the U.S. Like many popular fashion labels, they started life online as a small-scale startup that saw instant demand in Korea and Japan.
It’s no surprise that Blue Elephant sunglasses took off; they give off that cool, it-girl vibe that K-pop stars love. If you love BLACKPINK and BTS as much as the next girl, then you know that K-pop idols love dressing in fun, chic, and retro styles.
It’s also not surprising that the brand grew fast, as 2019 was just after K-Pop and K-Dramas really started to take off in the West. Then came COVID, and everyone discovered Crash Landing on You.
The masterminds behind Blue Elephant clearly knew what they were doing in terms of timing. They probably also saw the rise of Korean brands like Gentle Monster and the contact lens brand Olens, and they recognized there was a niche within eyewear.
After all, sunglasses are among the easiest ways to get into a fashion scene without investing too much money or time (or switching out your entire closet).
Like many brands that tap into the K-pop niche, Blue Elephant played it smart and grew from being online to having 25 stores in Asia, with another nine planned to open.
They really blew up when stars, including Soobin of TXT and J-Hope of BTS, were spotted in Blue Elephant sunglasses. The rest is history, as they say.
California Dreams: Expanding in the U.S.
The Korean eyewear brand is renting a 12,000-square-foot, two-story space in Beverly Hills. It’s big.
They’re taking over the lease from Pottery Barn (sorry, but it had to go). Beverly Hills is a prime location for fashionable brands, so it’s a wise choice for Blue Elephant. Having a store in the Hills is like saying, “I made it.” It shows that they are ready to win the hearts of American customers.
But that will likely be easy because everything Korean or K-pop oriented sells fast in the U.S. It’s part of Korean culture’s increasing influence globally. After all, we’ve all tried the skincare and makeup, so now it’s time for the accessories to have their moment in the spotlight.
What Will Blue Elephant Bring To Their New Store?
Eyewear stores in the U.S. are typically meh. They often look the same, featuring just rows of white or plexiglass shelving. They add no unique experience to shopping, which is why it’s not surprising that customers have started buying their eyewear online in the last few years.
But Blue Elephant might bring something different to the table. Their stores in Seoul and Tokyo are immersive and feel as much like an art gallery as a store. It’s all about an inspiring retail experience where Blue Elephant sunglasses and eyeglasses are intentionally displayed to showcase the brand’s aesthetic.
They plan to replicate this art pop-up vibe in the U.S. and Europe. It remains to be seen if their stores draw in the crowds as they do in Asia. But if they create some innovative retail displays, they just might.
After all, if Pottery Barn wasn’t cutting it, then maybe it’s time for something fresh in Beverly Hills and across the shopping districts of the country.
Is Blue Elephant the Same as Gentle Monster?
With the astronomical rise of K-brands, people have a tendency to compare. But these two brands have a lot of differences, just like big U.S. brands do.
For instance, Free People and Anthropology might look similar at first glance, but when you get to know them, you’ll see they’re not the same at all. The same principle applies to Korean brands.
Both Blue Elephant and Gentle Monster sell sunglasses and eyeglasses; however, the ethos, prices, and aesthetics are very different. Blue Elephant has a retro appeal, with vintage-inspired styles. You’ll find lots of classic models alongside some more subtly contemporary ones.
Gentle Monster, on the other hand, focuses on funky, statement pieces and collaborations with high-end brands, including Maison Margiela and Moncler.
Gentle Monster sunglasses are also more expensive, ranging from $200 to $300. Although not as expensive as other major brands like Prada or Gucci, Gentle Monster is a premium brand. They also have the advantage of being ahead of the Korean fashion boom since they opened their first U.S. store in 2016!
Blue Elephant sunglasses are more accessible at around $50. So they’re more affordable than most designer sunglasses, which is part of their appeal. They’re appealing to a younger audience as well as fashion-lovers who don’t want to splurge on eyewear but still want trendy styles.
One thing worth considering is that there’s likely a difference in quality between the two. While Gentle Monster is more expensive, they are known to make high-quality frames, which is why it’s not all hype. The brand didn’t just ride the K-Pop boom; instead, Gentle Monster created a brand based on style and substance, rivaling other major European designers.
Blue Elephant, on the other hand, is cheaper, and this might be evident in the quality of their products. There are some less-than-stellar reviews online (more on that later) about poor construction quality and subpar optical performance. However, if you’re paying around $50 for a pair of sunglasses from a trendy brand, you don’t usually expect a pair that rivals your Oakleys.
Although both brands are huge right now, it will be interesting to see how Blue Elephant builds its presence in the U.S. Will they become bigger than Gentle Monster?
Blue Elephant Is Going Global
All the major fashion brands start their global expansion by opening stores in the U.S., especially in New York and L.A. If a brand can make it in the States, it usually means they’re ready for global stores. It remains to be seen when and where they open other stores outside of Beverly Hills and the United States.
Top Blue Elephant Sunglasses
The VIAN-S galaxy sunglasses are one of the styles that showcase Blue Elephant’s original retro vibe. Everything from their photoshoots to their styles feels kind of ‘90s.
Another retro style is the Timmy-s Red Wine, which features vintage-inspired frames and a subtle cat-eye shape.
The LEX pearl sunglasses are a style you could easily imagine a K-pop star wearing. They’re sporty, fashionable, and have a Y2K edge.
Are Their Eyeglasses Just as Cool?
The short answer is yes (more or less). The sunglasses feature more original designs, which appear cutting-edge and trendy.
Blue Elephant eyeglasses also offer some cool styles, including semi-rimmed frames, transparent models, and contemporary shapes such as oval and aviator.
It is hard, however, to replicate the unique shapes and designs that can be achieved with sunglasses, as eyeglasses need to be practical for daily wear. They’re not only a fashion statement, but they should also be functional.
This is also true for their rival brand, Gentle Monster; their magic formula is a little harder to replicate with glasses. But one thing Blue Elephant does well is offer affordable styles, so buyers can potentially select more than one without breaking the bank.
These Vexl aviator glasses, for example, are currently under $100. They feature a unique shape that combines rectangular frames with the double nose-bridge more commonly found in aviator glasses.
As mentioned earlier, Blue Elephant has a knack for taking popular shapes such as the cat-eye and turning them into something a little more modern. Just take these Lino glasses, which feature semi-rimmed frames that give them a futuristic appeal.
The Rubi glasses are one of the styles that most closely resemble Blue Elephant sunglasses. They’re a mix of trendy and sporty, featuring silver frames and an original wrap-around shape. They’re perfect for those who are bored with traditional frames and want a pair that better expresses their personality.
What Do Online Reviews Say
When it comes to Redditors, the jury is out. Apparently, some users have had trouble using the U.S. site, but now there’s a physical store and other retailers that carry Blue Elephant, so it’s probably easier than ever to get a pair.
What about the quality?
Many Redditors commented on the sunglasses’ lackluster quality, saying they won’t be the best pair around. Some mention hinges and lenses that aren’t great.
These sentiments are echoed on other social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram, where reviewers often compare the sunglasses to Gentle Monster. The general consensus is that no, they don’t feel as high-quality, and the finishes and the glasses case aren’t as high-quality as well. However, they still look good.
Reviewers comment on how, although the feel isn’t top-tier, the sunglasses sit well on the face without slipping and sliding. In a visual side-by-side comparison of Gentle Monster and Blue Elephant, they can look pretty similar aesthetically, but the differences lie in the details.
Reviewers often say that for the price, Blue Elephant sunglasses are worth it. The key advice is not to have any unrealistic expectations about the quality. After all, if you’re paying $50 or less, you can’t really expect a pair of designer shades.
Are Blue Elephant Sunglasses Worth It?
If you’re looking for a brand that’s affordable and stylish, Blue Elephant could be a good option, as they offer a wide range of styles. If you like being on-trend and owning a large collection of shades that you switch out each summer, then this could be a good brand for you.
However, if you’re looking for a pair of timeless shades that can last for years, then it’s probably smart to look elsewhere. Brands that have been around for much longer and have built a reputation for durable sunglasses, such as Oakley, Oliver Peoples, and Maui Jim, are more likely to last.
For more trendy styles, there’s also Ray-Ban and other designer brands, from Tory Burch to Tiffany & Co., that don’t cost an entire paycheck.
TL;DR
Blue Elephant is the latest Korean fashion brand to set up shop in the U.S. It goes to show that there’s a demand for cool, alternative eyewear.
- Blue Elephant started as an online store in 2019. They then blew up and now operate 18 stores across Asia.
- K-pop stars were seen in their styles, which made them even more popular.
- The brand’s first U.S. store will open in Beverly Hills, California. It may lead to more U.S. stores opening in the next few years.
- They sell affordable vintage-inspired styles, which sets them apart from the other major Korean eyewear brand, Gentle Monster.
- Blue Elephant also makes eyeglasses, which are (almost) as cool as their sunglasses. The collection features contemporary spins on classic styles like semi-rimmed and transparent frames.
- Lots of reviewers compare Blue Elephant and Gentle Monster, and although the styles might look comparable, the quality isn’t. Gentle Monster sunglasses cost more, but reviewers comment on the superior feel.
- Overall, Blue Elephant sunglasses are a good choice for those who love on-trend fashion and want to switch out their collection often without breaking the bank.
What do you think of Blue Elephant’s eyewear?
