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KATHMANDU, April 27: Stores dealing with branded sunglasses have increased prices in a range of 6 to 44 percent attributing rise in international prices and drop in the value of Nepali currency vis-à-vis dollar.
Despite the price rise, traders are optimistic about increased sales and have introduced wide variety of new designs.
“Customers do not bother about the price as long as they get the product of their favorite brand and design,” said Bishwas Lama, salesman at Gorgeous at Civil Mall of Sundhara.
Ray-Ban, Gucci, Armani, Roberto Cavalli, D&G, Prada, Tom Ford, Police, Bvlgari, Dior, Versace, Vogue, Oakley, Chopard, Swarovski, Montblanc and Chanel are various brands available in the local market.
The price of sunglasses available in the local market ranges from Rs 7,000 to Rs 30,000 depending on the company, model, warranty and materials used.
Lama, who said that the prices of original sunglasses have increased by up to 44 percent, informed that Aviator of Ray- Ban presently costs Rs 7,000. It was priced Rs 6,500 last year.
Likewise, the price of Gucci GG3105/S, which was Rs 9,000 last year, costs Rs 13,000 now. The newly introduced brand Roberto Cavalli´s sunglasses are available at Rs 20,000. Armani GA920/S costs Rs 14,000 up by Rs 5,000 from last year´s price.
D&G 2097S is available at Rs 17,000 which was Rs 16,000 last year.
Tom ford is available at Rs 17,000 up by Rs 1,000 from last year and Prada S8592G is available at Rs 18,000 which was Rs 16,000 last year.
However, prices of the brands like Police S8592G which was Rs 9,000 and Bvlgari 8075 5031/13, which is 19,000 has not increased remarkably.
According to Lama, both men and women are the major customers of sunglasses. “When they get their favorite brand, they look for design and they try whether they are comfortable enough or not,” he added.
Demand for sunglasses increases mostly in summer as the branded glasses have UV protection. “If the sunglasses are comfortable for me, and I find the right brand cost does not matter much to me. As we can protect our eyes from harmful rays and at the same time look fashionable, I prefer wearing branded glasses,” said Amar Singh Dhami, a customer at the Civil Mall.
According to Amit Agrawal, proprietor of G Time Corner Store at City Center more people are attracted toward branded glasses as it has UV protection factor which the normal glasses cannot provide.
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