Innovative Eyewear, Inc. Receives NHPA Retailer's Choice Award for Lucyd Armor® Smart Safety Eyewear

Rhea-AI Summary

Innovative Eyewear (NASDAQ: LUCY) received the Retailer's Choice Award for Lucyd Armor at the National Hardware Show on April 10, 2026. Lucyd Armor, launched about 1.5 years ago, is described as the company's fastest-growing collection with safety certifications for high-impact workplace use.

Company commentary highlighted handsfree smart features, AI access, patented walkie-talkie functionality, and broad appeal for industrial and leisure use. The U.S. safety eyewear market was valued at $370–400M in 2024 and is projected to exceed $650M by 2033 (6–7% CAGR); the global smart eyewear market is forecast to grow from $1B in 2024 to $4B by 2030 (~25–30% CAGR).

Positive

• Retailer's Choice Award at National Hardware Show (April 10, 2026)
• Fastest-growing collection since launch (~1.5 years ago)
• U.S. safety eyewear market projected to exceed $650M by 2033 (6–7% CAGR)
• Global smart eyewear market forecast to reach $4B by 2030 (~25–30% CAGR)

Negative

• None.

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MIAMI, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovative Eyewear, Inc. ("Innovative Eyewear" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: LUCY; LUCYW), the developer & manufacturer of smart eyewear under the Lucyd®, Lucyd Armor®, Reebok®, Nautica®, and Eddie Bauer® brands, is pleased to announce the receipt of the Retailer's Choice Award for Lucyd Armor, at the National Hardware Show event in Las Vegas. The North American Hardware and Paint Association's Retailer's Choice Award is celebrating its 60^th anniversary this year of recognizing innovative products in the hardware channel.

Lucyd Armor has been the Company's fastest-growing collection to-date, driven by the need for practical, handsfree connectivity and eye protection in industrial verticals. The collection's sporty styling makes it flexible for use at work and leisure, adding to its general appeal and making the product suitable for a multitude of different lifestyles.

The U.S. safety eyewear market is a durable, steadily growing segment of the broader personal protective equipment industry, driven by regulatory mandates and persistent workplace risk. Valued at approximately $370–400 million in 2024, it is projected to exceed $650 million by 2033, representing a 6–7% CAGR¹. Demand is anchored by rigorous enforcement of OSHA standards requiring eye protection across high-risk sectors including construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and energy. Concurrently, the market is undergoing a meaningful transformation with the rise of smart and connected eyewear, shifting the category from passive protection to integrated productivity and communication platforms. The global smart eyewear market is expected to grow rapidly, expanding from approximately $1 billion in 2024 to over $4 billion by 2030, representing a ~25–30% CAGR.²

Harrison Gross, CEO of Innovative Eyewear, commented on the award, "Lucyd Armor has been transformational since we launched it a year and a half ago, enabling our company to deliver highly functional smart eyewear for workforces around the world. I believe the product is a standout because it provides a unique mix of handsfree smart features, AI access, patented walky-talky functionality and of course vision correction and protection, with the required safety certifications for high impact workplace use. The hardware channel hasn't witnessed many safety eyewear innovations of late, and I think that's part of the reason Armor has been so well-received by thousands of workers around the world. True to our mission to Upgrade Your Eyewear®, Lucyd Armor offers significant connectivity and intelligent support features over traditional safety glasses. That's why I believe it could become a global standard for safety eyewear."

The Company welcomes prospective resellers and safety managers to reach out to Matthew Berry, Director of Safety Sales, at MBerry@Lucyd.co for a demonstration.

Watch the award presentation at the National Hardware Show here.

About Innovative Eyewear, Inc.

Innovative Eyewear is a developer & manufacturer of cutting-edge ChatGPT enabled smart eyewear, under the Lucyd®, Lucyd Armor®, Reebok®, Nautica®, and Eddie Bauer® brands. True to our mission to Upgrade Your Eyewear®, our Bluetooth audio glasses allow users to stay safely and ergonomically connected to their digital lives and are offered in hundreds of frame and lens combinations to meet the needs of the optical, sunglass, sporting goods and safety eyewear markets. To learn more and explore our continuously evolving collection of smart eyewear, please visit www.lucyd.co.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including those relating to new retail awards and the success of new products. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe-harbor for forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "future," "intend," "may," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K under the caption "Risk Factors."

Investor Relations Contact:

Skyline Corporate Communications Group, LLC
Scott Powell, President
1177 Avenue of the Americas, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Office: +1 (646) 893-5835
Email: info@skylineccg.com

¹ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/us-eye-protection-equipment-market-report

² https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/smart-glasses-market-148134046.html

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SOURCE Innovative Eyewear, Inc.

FAQ

What did Innovative Eyewear (LUCY) win at the National Hardware Show on April 10, 2026?

Innovative Eyewear won the Retailer's Choice Award for Lucyd Armor on April 10, 2026. According to the company, the award recognizes product innovation in the hardware channel and highlights Armor's reception among safety buyers and resellers.

How long has Lucyd Armor been on the market and how is it performing for LUCY?

Lucyd Armor has been on the market for about 1.5 years and is the company's fastest-growing collection. According to the company, growth is driven by handsfree connectivity, safety certifications, and appeal across work and leisure use cases.

What safety and smart features does Lucyd Armor offer for workers according to Innovative Eyewear?

Lucyd Armor combines vision protection and handsfree smart features, including AI access and patented walkie-talkie functionality. According to the company, the product meets required safety certifications for high-impact workplace use.

What is the size of the U.S. safety eyewear market cited by Innovative Eyewear?

The company cites the U.S. safety eyewear market at approximately $370–400M in 2024, projected to exceed $650M by 2033. According to the company, growth is driven by OSHA mandates and demand in high-risk sectors.

How does Innovative Eyewear view the global smart eyewear market opportunity for LUCY?

Innovative Eyewear cites a global smart eyewear market expanding from $1B in 2024 to over $4B by 2030. According to the company, this ~25–30% CAGR presents a large runway for connected safety eyewear adoption.

How can resellers or safety managers request a Lucyd Armor demonstration from LUCY?

Prospective resellers and safety managers can request a demonstration by contacting Matthew Berry, Director of Safety Sales, via the company's provided email address. According to the company, direct outreach is encouraged for demos and reseller discussions.