How to Brief a PC Sunglasses Factory: What to Provide

A brief that arrives at a PC sunglasses factory with too little information does not stay that way — the factory fills in the gaps with its own defaults, which may or may not match what the brand had in mind. The resulting sample reflects those defaults, not the brief, and the revision rounds that follow cost time that a complete brief would have prevented.

For PC sunglasses specifically, there are more decision points than most first-time buyers anticipate — because PC is one of the few materials used for both the frame and the lens, lens coating options interact in specific ways, and compliance requirements vary by market in ways that affect what the factory needs to set up before production begins. Getting these decisions into the brief, rather than discovering them at the sample stage, is what produces an accurate quote and a first sample that matches the brand’s intent.

This guide covers what a PC sunglasses brief needs to contain, in the order those decisions are typically made, with a complete checklist at the end.

Before You Write the Brief: Three Questions to Answer First

Three structural decisions shape everything else in a PC sunglasses brief. Answering them before writing the brief prevents the most common causes of quote revision and sample miscommunication.

ODM or OEM?

ODM means selecting an existing frame design from the manufacturer’s tooling library and applying customization — color, logo, lens specification — to that base design. No new mold is required. OEM means commissioning a new frame shape that requires new tooling.

This decision affects MOQ, lead time, mold cost, and how much of the brief needs to cover frame geometry. For ODM orders, the frame shape is already defined; the brief focuses on color, lens, branding, and packaging. For OEM orders, frame geometry, wall thickness, and structural specifications all need to be addressed. For more on how this affects production cost and timeline, see How to Lower Your Sunglasses MOQ with Injection Molding.

Frame Only, Lens Only, or Both?

PC is unusual among eyewear materials in that it functions as both a frame material and a lens material. The brief should state explicitly which application is being specified.

A brief that says “PC sunglasses” without clarifying whether PC applies to the frame, the lens, or both, leaves a meaningful gap. If the brand wants a PC frame with TAC polarized lenses — a common combination for fashion sunwear — the brief needs to state that. If the brand wants full PC construction for a sport or safety-positioned product, that also needs to be stated explicitly. For a full explanation of how frame and lens applications differ, see What Is PC (Polycarbonate)? The Material Behind Safety and Sport Eyewear.

Which Market Is the Product Being Sold Into?

The destination market determines what compliance testing is required, and testing requirements affect the production specification — lens thickness, frame geometry, and marking requirements all vary by standard. A PC sunglasses line for the US market needs FDA drop-ball test documentation. A line entering the EU or UK needs CE marking. A product making occupational safety claims needs ANSI Z87.1 documentation. Establishing the target market upfront allows the factory to flag any specification issues before sampling begins, rather than after. For a full breakdown of which standard applies to which product positioning, see PC Sunglasses Safety Standards: ANSI Z87.1 and What B2B Buyers Should Know.

Frame Specification: What the Factory Needs

For ODM Orders

• Style reference: The manufacturer’s catalog number or a clear image of the existing style being selected. If referencing a style from another source, a physical sample or dimensioned image is more useful than a description.
• Frame color: Specify by Pantone reference or provide a physical color chip. “Matte black” or “translucent blue” describes a category, not a production specification — two factories’ interpretations of the same color name can differ significantly.
• Surface finish: Matte, gloss, semi-gloss, or textured. If referencing an existing finish quality level, a physical sample is the most reliable reference.
• Colorway count and quantity split: How many frame colors and how the total volume is distributed across them. For the MOQ logic behind this, see How to Lower Your Sunglasses MOQ with Injection Molding.

For OEM Orders

All of the above, plus:

• Design reference or technical drawing: A sketch, reference image, or CAD file. The factory’s engineering team will convert this into a production-ready drawing, but a clear reference reduces the interpretation gap. For a genuinely new shape, a dimensioned sketch is more useful than an image alone.
• Key dimensions: Lens width, bridge width, temple length. If the design is sized for a specific market fit (e.g., Asian fit with a higher nose bridge, or a wider fit for North American proportions), state this explicitly.
• Wall thickness target: This affects both the weight and feel of the frame and, for PC specifically, its performance in impact testing. If the product is intended to meet FDA or ANSI impact standards, the factory needs to know this before finalizing wall thickness — the specification affects the test outcome.
• Hinge type: Standard barrel hinge or spring hinge. Spring hinges add cost and slightly increase temple bulk but improve durability for thinner temples. For PC frames with thin temple profiles, spring hinges are generally recommended.
• RP sample confirmation: For OEM new designs, Sailook provides a Rapid Prototype (RP) sample before mold cutting begins, allowing the brand to confirm shape, proportions, and fit at the prototype stage. Confirming willingness to go through RP review before mold production is worth stating in the brief — it protects both sides.

Lens Specification: What the Factory Needs

Lens specification for PC sunglasses involves more independent decisions than most briefs address. The following should each be specified separately — they do not default to each other.

Base Tint

State the lens color (grey, brown, green, blue, rose, amber, or a specific fashion color) and tint type (solid or gradient). For gradient, specify the transition depth — from what point on the lens does the tint begin to fade — and the acceptable variation tolerance. Providing a physical reference sample is the most reliable way to control gradient appearance in production.

For tint density, either specify a target Visible Light Transmission (VLT) percentage or reference a physical sample. Without this, the factory will apply a standard density that may be lighter or darker than the brand expects.

UV Standard

Confirm UV400 explicitly. For PC lenses, UV400 is inherent to the material and does not require additional processing cost — but confirming it in the brief ensures it appears in test documentation and on any product labeling. For more on why UV protection is independent of lens color and coating, see PC Sunglasses Color and Coating Options: UV, Mirror, and Polarized Combinations.

Mirror Coating

State yes or no. If yes:

• Specify mirror color with a physical reference sample — color names alone are insufficient. “Blue mirror” covers a wide range of actual appearances across different coating formulas and manufacturers.
• Specify mirror density: flash (semi-transparent, lighter reflective effect) or full mirror (high reflectivity).
• Confirm that a hard coating will be applied beneath the mirror as a standard step.

Polarization

State yes or no. If yes, specify PC polarized or TAC polarized — these are not interchangeable and have different cost and performance implications:

• TAC polarized: More common for fashion and lifestyle sunwear. Lower cost, good optical clarity, moderate impact resistance.
• PC polarized: Appropriate for sport and safety-positioned products where the lens needs to match the frame’s impact resistance. Higher cost, lower Abbe value than TAC, but passes FDA and ANSI impact testing.

For a full comparison of these options, see PC Sunglasses Color and Coating Options.

Hard Coating

Standard on all PC lenses — confirm whether single-sided (front face only) or double-sided. Single-sided is standard for most commercial production; double-sided adds cost and improves scratch resistance on the inner face.

Additional Coatings

State yes or no for:

• Back-side anti-reflective (AR): Reduces internal reflections. Recommended for mid-range and above positioning.
• Hydrophobic / oleophobic: Water and oil repellent. Worth including for outdoor and sport-positioned products.

Branding, Logo, and Packaging

Logo

• Method: Pad printing (standard for most PC frames, accommodates color logos) or laser engraving (better for darker frames where contrast is sufficient; less common on injection-molded plastic than on metal). For more on which method is appropriate for PC frames, see Custom Promotional Sunglasses: What Brands Need to Know.
• File: Vector format (AI or EPS) at actual application size.
• Position: Standard outer temple mid-section unless otherwise specified.
• Color: PMS reference for pad printing.
• Minimum quantity per logo setup: Branding typically has its own minimum per design, separate from frame MOQ — confirm this with the factory.

Packaging

• Type: Polybag, soft pouch, semi-rigid case, or hard case. State material and finish.
• Custom branding on packaging: If the case, pouch, or box requires the brand logo, state this as a separate item with its own brief (artwork file, placement, method).
• Accessories: Cleaning cloth yes or no; care card yes or no; hang tag yes or no.

Compliance and Testing Requirements

State the target market and the compliance documentation required. Do not leave this as an implied assumption — state it explicitly.

• US market: FDA drop-ball test report for the assembled product. UV400 test report.
• EU / UK market: CE declaration of conformity (EN ISO 12312-1).
• Sport or safety performance claim: ANSI Z87 or Z87+ test documentation — specify which tier before production begins.
• EU market with metal hardware: Nickel release test.

Note that compliance documentation must be for the assembled product — lens in frame — not for the lens material alone. If this is a first order with a new manufacturer, confirming their capability to provide the specific documentation required for your target market is a pre-production step, not a post-delivery one.

Timeline and Volume

• Total order quantity and colorway split: Total units and how they are distributed across frame colors and lens options.
• Required delivery date: The in-hand date, not the ship date. Build in transit time from China to destination market: sea freight typically 3–5 weeks, air freight 5–10 days.
• Sample approval deadline: If there is a launch date driving the timeline, state what date the sample needs to be approved by for bulk production to begin in time. Work backward from the delivery date through the production window to confirm whether the timeline is achievable.

A Complete PC Sunglasses Brief Checklist

Structural decisions (answer before writing anything else):

• ODM (existing mold) or OEM (new mold)?
• PC frame, PC lens, or both?
• Target market for compliance purposes?

Frame specification:

• Style reference (ODM catalog number or OEM design file)
• Frame color with Pantone reference or physical chip
• Surface finish (matte / gloss / textured)
• Total quantity and colorway split
• OEM only: key dimensions, wall thickness target, hinge type
• OEM only: RP sample confirmation step acknowledged

Lens specification:

• Base tint color and solid or gradient
• Gradient: transition depth and tolerance (if applicable)
• Tint density / VLT target or physical reference
• UV400: confirm explicitly
• Mirror coating: yes or no; if yes, color reference sample + density
• Polarization: yes or no; if yes, PC or TAC
• Hard coating: single-sided or double-sided
• Back-side AR: yes or no
• Hydrophobic/oleophobic: yes or no

Branding and packaging:

• Logo method (pad print or laser)
• Logo file (vector, AI or EPS, at application size)
• Logo position and color (PMS)
• Packaging type and custom branding requirements
• Accessories (cloth, care card, hang tag)

Compliance:

• Target market(s)
• Required documentation (FDA, CE, ANSI Z87, nickel)
• Confirmation that test documentation covers assembled product, not lens material alone

Timeline and volume:

• Total order quantity
• Colorway split
• Required in-hand delivery date
• Sample approval deadline

FAQ

What is the difference between an ODM brief and an OEM brief for PC sunglasses? An ODM brief specifies customization applied to an existing frame design — color, lens, logo, packaging — without needing to address frame geometry, since the shape already exists. An OEM brief needs to include frame design references or technical drawings, key dimensions, wall thickness targets, and hinge specifications, in addition to all the customization details. ODM briefs are shorter and simpler; OEM briefs are more detailed and require more pre-brief preparation from the brand.

Do I need to specify both frame and lens separately in my brief? Yes. PC is unusual in that it can be used for both frame and lens, and the performance requirements for each application differ. A brief that says “PC sunglasses” without specifying which application — frame, lens, or both — will be interpreted with factory defaults. If you want a PC frame with TAC polarized lenses, or full PC construction for an impact-rated product, both need to be explicitly stated.

What happens if I do not provide a physical reference sample for mirror coating? Mirror coating color varies significantly between production batches and different manufacturers’ standard references. “Blue mirror” in one factory’s catalog may look noticeably different from another factory’s version or from the brand’s intended reference. Without a physical reference sample approved before production begins, color-match disputes between sample and bulk are common. For mirror coatings, a written color name is not a sufficient specification.

Which compliance documents do I need to include in the brief? State the target market and the specific documents required: FDA drop-ball test report and UV400 report for US-market products; CE declaration of conformity for EU/UK; ANSI Z87 or Z87+ documentation for products making occupational safety or high-impact performance claims. Confirming this before sampling allows the factory to flag any design elements that might affect test outcomes while there is still time to adjust them.

What is the RP sample step, and do I need to acknowledge it in my brief? For OEM orders requiring a new mold, Sailook produces a Rapid Prototype (RP) sample from the design file before mold cutting begins. This allows the brand to confirm the frame’s shape, proportions, and fit at the prototype stage — at a fraction of the cost of a mold revision. Acknowledging in the brief that the RP confirmation step will happen before mold production avoids any misunderstanding about why this step exists and what is expected from the brand at that stage.

How do I specify tint density if I do not know the VLT percentage? The most reliable method is to provide a physical reference sample of a lens at the desired density. If no physical reference is available, describe the intended use case — “dark tint for beach use,” “light tint for fashion wear, some color visible on the eye” — and the factory can propose a standard density for confirmation in the sample. Without either, the factory applies a house standard that may or may not match the brand’s expectation.

Summary

A complete PC sunglasses brief resolves three structural questions before writing anything — ODM or OEM, frame or lens or both, and target market for compliance — then addresses frame color and specification, lens tint and coating stack, branding, packaging, compliance documentation, and delivery timeline. For PC specifically, the lens coating section requires more detail than most briefs provide: base tint, UV standard, mirror color with physical reference, polarization type, hard coating sides, and any additional coatings are each independent specifications that do not default to each other. Getting these into the brief rather than discovering them at sample review is what produces a first sample that matches the brand’s intent and a production quote that does not change after sampling begins.

For Sailook’s full range of PC sunglasses options and production parameters, visit our PC sunglasses page.