When buyers evaluate a pair of sunglasses, style is what they see first. But what actually determines whether that pair survives in a target market is the layer no one sees: the frame material.
The three frame materials most commonly used in OEM sunglasses are PC (Polycarbonate), TR90 (thermoplastic resin), and Nylon. Each involves a different set of trade-offs in weight, flexibility, and durability — and those trade-offs directly shape product positioning and market fit.
Boshown has been manufacturing eyewear for 35+ years. Which material pairs with which market, and at what price point — we work through that decision every day. Here's the full picture.
Low Cost · Impact Resistant · High-Volume
The workhorse material for sports and safety eyewear — stable molding at the lowest cost.
Best for: Sports / Safety / Entry-level volume
Ultra-Light · Memory Flex · High Comfort
Bends without breaking, returns to shape under load — pressure-free on extended wear.
Best for: Mid-to-premium / Lifestyle / High-performance sports
UV-Resistant · Temperature-Stable · Weather-Proof
Strongest weather resistance of the three — most reliable in sustained outdoor exposure.
Best for: Premium outdoor / Professional sports flagship
Why Frame Material Is the First Decision in OEM Sourcing
Frame material isn't a factory's internal technical detail. It's the origin point of your cost structure, your return rate, and your brand positioning.
Swap the material on the same frame design and you change the unit price, the wear feel, and the durability — entirely. A pair of sunglasses built for sports retail with the wrong material will loosen and deform within a single season. A value-line product forced into premium material won't hold its retail price. Choosing material is, in essence, placing a bet on how an entire batch will land in the market.
What we see most often: brand owners skip the material question when they inquire, going straight to style and price. Samples arrive, weight is off, flexibility is wrong, specs need reworking, and prototyping runs again. Lock down the material first — then the frame style, lenses, and packaging all follow cleanly.
Material determines more than feel. It determines your return rate. A pair sold into outdoor sports retail that doesn't hold up through one use cycle takes a long time to rebuild brand trust from. Choosing material is placing a bet on the positioning of an entire batch — not a detail you fine-tune later.
PC (Polycarbonate) Frames
PC (Polycarbonate) is the most widely used frame material in sunglasses manufacturing. It resists shattering, absorbs impact reliably, molds consistently, and costs less than the alternatives.
These properties make PC the go-to material for sports and safety eyewear. Against impacts, drops, and collisions, PC frames outperform most plastics — which is why it's the first choice for high-stress applications. When we ship safety and protective eyewear, PC frames are almost always spec'd in, paired with ANSI Z87.1 testing requirements.
PC's trade-off is surface hardness. It scratches more easily than the other two materials, so frames typically receive a surface treatment, and lenses are best paired with an anti-scratch coating.
Low cost, strong impact resistance, high-volume production — that combination makes PC the natural fit for volume-driven product lines. Sports frames, safety frames, or price-sensitive entry-level series: PC is where we'd start.
PC is the volume material. Its impact resistance and cost advantage leave it with almost no competition in sports and safety eyewear — the one thing to manage is surface scratch treatment. For broad distribution at an accessible price point, PC is the most stable starting point.
TR90 Frames
TR90 (a class of thermoplastic resin) is an ultra-lightweight material with memory flexibility. It bends without breaking and returns to shape under load.
That flexibility is TR90's core value. Frames conform to different face shapes, reduce pressure on extended wear, and hold up well against daily twisting and compression. For high-performance sports applications, it means the frame stays stable under intense movement — more secure wear from the first use.
Weight is the other selling point. TR90 is lighter than most frame materials, which translates to low on-face presence during running, cycling, or training. That's exactly the wear experience sports eyewear brands want.
We produce TR90 frames in high proportion across both lifestyle and sports categories — particularly for mid-to-premium lines where wear comfort is a core positioning claim. For brands targeting premium feel or sports-performance positioning, TR90 is typically the better call over PC.
TR90 competes on wear experience. Memory flexibility combined with light weight makes it difficult to displace in mid-to-premium sports and lifestyle frames. If premium pricing and comfort are the brand's core claims, TR90 carries that story better than PC.
Nylon Frames
Nylon is the most weather-resistant of the three materials. It holds up against UV exposure, extreme temperatures, and extended outdoor conditions where other plastics would degrade.
That weather resistance is the reason Nylon fits true long-duration outdoor applications. High altitude, coastal exposure, high-UV environments — the frame faces not just wear but sustained sun and temperature variance. Nylon performs more reliably here than standard plastics.
The cost is real. Nylon is the most expensive of the three, which is why it mostly appears in high-end outdoor or professional sports product lines, rarely in price-sensitive entry-level frames.
We spec Nylon most often for clients targeting outdoor-oriented, premium-positioned categories. If a brand is building a professional outdoor line and wants durability as a brand promise, Nylon belongs in that conversation.
Nylon is the weather-resistance insurance material. UV and temperature resistance give it a standing in professional outdoor frames that the others can't match — but the cost means it only pays off at the right price tier. It serves brands for whom durability is the actual selling point.
Matching Material to Use Case
No material is objectively better than another. Each is better for a specific market. With the trade-offs laid out side by side, the selection logic becomes direct.
| Property | PC (Polycarbonate) | TR90 (Thermoplastic Resin) | Nylon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Medium | Ultra-light | Light |
| Flexibility | Stiffer, low flex | Memory flex, bends without breaking | Medium flex |
| Impact resistance | Strong | Strong | Medium-high |
| Weather resistance | Standard | Standard | Strong (UV-resistant, temperature-stable) |
| Cost | Low | Mid | High |
| Best for | Sports, safety eyewear, volume entry-level | High-performance sports, everyday wear, mid-to-premium | Premium outdoor, professional sports |
Three Rules for Material Selection
- Volume-driven, accessible price point, sports or safety use → PC
- Wear comfort, mid-to-premium positioning, sports or lifestyle → TR90
- Premium outdoor, durability as the brand promise → Nylon
In practice, most product lines mix materials. The pattern we see most often: PC for the entry tier, TR90 for the core range, Nylon for the outdoor flagship.
Choosing material isn't about finding the "best" one — it's about matching material to product tier. Entry on PC, core on TR90, outdoor flagship on Nylon: that's how a product line holds its cost structure and positioning at the same time.
Boshown's customization starts at the frame material level. Beyond PC and TR90 selection, logo printing or laser engraving, frame and lens color options, and private-label packaging design are all available — OEM / ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) supported across the full process. Once material direction is confirmed, frame selection and manufacturing process follow naturally; for a full picture of how private-label programs work, the Private Label Starter Guide is the right starting point.
FAQ
Q1: Which material is best for sports sunglasses — PC, TR90, or Nylon?
Q2: What's the real difference between TR90 and PC?
Q3: Why do Nylon frames cost more?
Q4: Can I specify frame material in an OEM sunglasses order?
Q5: What are the MOQ and lead time for OEM sunglasses frames?
Q6: Which material has the lowest cost for entry-level OEM?
Q7: How do I determine the right frame material for my brand?