Loft is the longest running and largest independent eyewear show in the Americas

The story of the LOFT is one of passion and independence. Starting in 2000, the concept was born from the idea of community within the independent sector of the eyewear industry.

In the beginning it was the driving momentum of something different that drew the companies together. Pretty soon the feeling started to become infectious as more and more eyewear junkies began to open new stores and boutiques. From those humble beginnings our show expanded to cater for all these eclectic and fiercely independent design houses.

LOFT is where independent eyewear finds its people!

LOFT is not a convention. It's a curated experience - part design showcase, part community ritual - held in spaces as considered as the collections inside them: an historic Art Deco post office steps from the Pacific Ocean, landmark buildings in the Chelsea district of New York. For optical boutique owners and independent designers who reject the generic, LOFT is their annual homecoming.

Now more than ever, the gap between mainstream and independent seems larger. Big box companies are consolidating and the product channels are ever more generic. Small independent designers are finally getting noticed as more and more business owners look for a point of difference. These treasures can be found in the independent eyewear movement worldwide. Niche eyewear shows are popping up all over the globe to foster this market. End consumers are being educated about design and small batch quantities, asking retailers to stock their favorite collections.

The future has always been independent!