Blue Elephant
Blue Elephant is a South Korean eyewear brand founded in Seoul in 2019. It sells optical frames and sunglasses at accessible prices, with designs drawing on 1970s American classic and vintage styles.
| Founded | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Seongdong District, Seoul |
| Products | Optical frames, sunglasses |
| Lines | Basic, Exclusive, Active |
| Website | blueelephant.co |
What is Blue Elephant?
Blue Elephant is an eyewear brand headquartered in Seongdong District, Seoul. It started on 31 January 2019 as an online eyewear brand and has since built a growing store network in Korea and abroad.
Products and positioning
The company makes eyeglasses and sunglasses priced well below many luxury eyewear labels. Its designs reference 1970s American classics and vintage frames. In 2026 it organised its offer into three lines:
- Basic
- Exclusive
- Active
Distribution
By the end of 2024 Blue Elephant operated 16 stores in South Korea, including one on Jeju Island, and by 2025 it had 25 locations worldwide. International expansion has included:
- A first directly operated flagship in Harajuku, Tokyo, in July 2025, followed by a store in Shinjuku
- A pop-up at Glorietta 3 in Makati, the Philippines, in October 2025
- Travel retail and online listings in Hong Kong, Macau and with Starlux Airlines
- A planned first US store in Beverly Hills
Why it matters
Blue Elephant is one of the names behind the rise of K-eyewear, showing how Korean accessory brands use online origins, design-led stores and Asian travel retail to scale quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Blue Elephant eyewear from?
Blue Elephant is a South Korean eyewear brand based in Seoul.
What does Blue Elephant sell?
It sells eyeglasses and sunglasses at accessible prices, inspired by vintage American styles.