From the set of The Great British Bake Off to Australian optical practices, Dame Prue Leith’s signature love of colour is inspiring a bold new eyewear collection from Eyes Right Optical.
For more than three decades, Eyes Right Optical has built its reputation on distinctive, design-driven eyewear that balances European flair with Australian practicality.
Now, the Melbourne-based eyewear supplier is about to make arguably its boldest style statement yet. Launching January 2026, Eyes Right Optical will be introducing the Prue collection, an exclusive range of colourful acetate frames created by Dame Prue Leith, best-known as a judge on The Great British Bake Off, and a self-confessed ‘colour obsessive’.
The collection unites two worlds: the exuberant British personality known for her rainbow wardrobe and statement jewellery, and one of Australia’s leading eyewear suppliers for the independent scene with a knack for spotting brands that spark conversation.
For Leith, the idea of designing her own eyewear range grew out of pure frustration.
“I was just irritated by the lack of choice when it came to colourful and stylish glasses,” she says. “I found there were so few brands that actually did colour well.”
Known for her bold necklaces and bright wardrobe on television, Leith has always viewed eyewear as a key part of self-expression.
“I love colour – one may even say I’m obsessed,” she admits. “I don’t own a single beige or grey garment. I have a whole wall of necklaces in my bedroom and sell my own brand of brightly coloured resin jewellery.”
That spirit has been distilled into the Prue collection – a vibrant lineup of laminated acetates, each frame designed to be as flattering as it is comfortable. “Most important is comfort,” says Leith. “They must sit snugly and not move. Next is they should be flattering. I want my specs to improve my looks!”
A collaboration built on colour
According to Mr Mark Wymond, managing director of Eyes Right Optical, the opportunity to bring the Prue collection to Australia came about earlier this year through the company’s UK contacts.
“The Prue eyewear collection has developed a loyal following since its debut in the UK five years ago. We are excited to release it in Australia in January 2026.”
The Prue collection is produced in partnership with Leith and her design team. This ensures that the collection reflects Prue’s vibrant personal style and has bold, beautiful creations that she loves to wear herself, Wymond says.
“While some frames are deliberately flamboyant, the range also includes more commercially wearable shapes. It’s got a broad variety of appeal,” he says.
He believes Australian customers will connect strongly with the brand’s colour philosophy. “It’s always going to be a colourful collection – there’s never going to be just a straight black frame.”
Leith, now in her mid-80s, remains a high-energy creative force. A former restaurateur, author and broadcaster, she has worn glasses for more than 50 years and views them as an essential part of her personal style.
“I’d rather spend money on glasses (and necklaces) than on shoes and handbags that spend most of their time under tables,” she says. That sentiment resonates with Wymond, who sees the range as both stylish and empowering.
“It’s very much Prue’s personality – confident, colourful, and unapologetically expressive,” he says. “There’s nothing else quite like it in our portfolio, and really nothing else like it in the market right now. Most licensed brands are quite conservative. The Prue collection is the opposite – it’s lively, it’s joyful, and it stands on its own.”
Eyes Right Optical will distribute the collection exclusively in Australia, bringing in the full suite of approximately 20 models across about 100 SKUs, all crafted in acetate.
The brand’s visual campaign, shot in the UK’s Cotswolds alongside Leith’s jewellery and footwear collections, captures her signature sense of play and sophistication.
The company’s experience launching distinctive European eyewear lines has prepared it well for this latest collaboration. From eco-friendly materials to avant-garde design, Wymond says Eyes Right Optical has consistently championed frames that encourage optometrists and optical dispensers to think beyond the mainstream.
For those independent practices, the Prue collection offers an opportunity to showcase eyewear as fashion – not just function. The frames are designed for patients who view their glasses as an extension of personality, like Leith.
“Eyewear and necklaces are bang in the eyeline of the beholder all the time,” she says.
Her enthusiasm for self-expression, paired with Eyes Right Optical’s local expertise, gives the brand every reason to resonate in Australian stores. Wymond is confident the collection’s blend of quality, comfort and exuberant design will strike the right chord.
“It’s always a delicate balance with licensed brands – you want to keep the integrity of the designer while also making sure it works commercially,” he says.
“But Prue’s involvement goes far beyond lending her name. The collection is very true to her style and her love of colour. That authenticity is what makes it so special.”
To register your interest for Eyes Right Optical’s January 2026 launch of the Prue collection, email sales@eyesright.com.au.
