Custom Sunglasses for US Importers & Brands
FDA-registered manufacturing, ANSI Z80.3 conformance, Section 301 tariff guidance and fast trans-Pacific logistics for American eyewear brands and importers.
Selling sunglasses in United States
The United States is the world's largest sunglasses market, and American importers operate under a clear regulatory framework administered by the FDA. LumiShades has shipped to US brands, distributors and promotional buyers since 2009, and our manufacturing is FDA-registered, so US programs start on solid compliance footing.
US standard: FDA + ANSI Z80.3
In the United States, non-prescription sunglasses are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as medical devices. The mandatory requirement is impact resistance under 21 CFR 801.410 — every lens must pass a drop-ball impact test. The relevant voluntary-but-expected consensus standard is ANSI Z80.3, which covers UV transmittance limits, optical quality (refractive power, prism), lens category and labeling. Reputable US retailers and platforms (including major marketplaces) increasingly require ANSI Z80.3 conformance documentation before they will list eyewear.
LumiShades manufacturing is FDA-registered, and we supply impact-test and UV-transmittance reports plus ANSI Z80.3 conformance documentation with US orders. We also help with correct packaging labeling. Note California's Proposition 65: products sold into California require warning labels for listed chemicals, so we supply REACH/Prop 65-compliant materials and documentation to keep your California sales clean.
Import duties, HS codes & Section 301
Sunglasses are generally classified under HS 9004.10 (HTSUS 9004.10.0000). The base US duty rate on sunglasses is modest (around 2% ad valorem), but goods of Chinese origin are also subject to Section 301 tariffs, which add a further percentage on top of the base rate. Section 301 rates have changed several times, so confirm the current rate with your customs broker before you finalize landed-cost math — it materially affects your unit economics.
To estimate your landed cost, take the FOB unit price, add ocean/air freight per unit, then add base duty plus any Section 301 surcharge on the customs value, plus the Merchandise Processing Fee and Harbor Maintenance Fee. We provide accurate carton CBM and weights so your broker and forwarder can quote precisely. Many US buyers choose FOB Ningbo to control freight, while smaller e-commerce sellers prefer door-to-door DDP.
Logistics & lead time to the US
We ship from Ningbo and Shanghai to all major US ports. Indicative transit times: express air (DHL/FedEx) 3-6 days for samples and urgent top-ups; air freight 5-10 days; ocean to the West Coast (LA/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle) roughly 18-26 days port-to-port, and to the East Coast (NY/NJ, Savannah, Houston) via Panama 30-40 days. Add origin handling, customs clearance and inland trucking to your delivered timeline.
For a seasonal US launch (spring/summer sunglasses), work backwards from your on-shelf date: allow 7-10 days for samples, 25-35 days production, plus transit, plus a buffer around Chinese New Year (late January/February) when factory capacity tightens industry-wide. Booking before CNY is essential for a reliable spring delivery.
Why US buyers source from LumiShades
- ✓Vertically integrated factory in Wenzhou — frame, lens, decoration and packaging in-house since 2009.
- ✓MOQ just 50 pairs, samples in 7-10 days, production in 25-35 days.
- ✓Full compliance documentation and correctly-labeled packaging for your market.
- ✓Flexible Incoterms — FOB, CIF or door-to-door DDP.
- ✓98.5% on-time delivery across 60+ countries; 5M+ pairs shipped a year.