Meta is expanding its wearable technology footprint by developing AI-powered smart glasses in collaboration with the Italian luxury fashion house, Prada. According to a report published Tuesday, the tech giant is moving beyond its traditional partnership model to integrate advanced artificial intelligence directly into high-end fashion accessories. While the project is confirmed to be in development, a formal public release date remains undisclosed.
Strategic Shift Beyond EssilorLuxottica
This partnership signals a significant pivot in Meta’s hardware strategy. Historically, the company has relied exclusively on its alliance with eyewear titan EssilorLuxottica to distribute its smart glasses. While Prada is not owned by EssilorLuxottica, the fashion brand has maintained a decades-long manufacturing agreement with the eyewear giant, which recently renewed their licensing partnership.
By engaging directly with Prada, Meta is positioning its AI-integrated hardware as a premium lifestyle product rather than just a niche tech gadget, aiming to capture a wider share of the luxury consumer market.
Building on Hardware Momentum
The move follows the commercial success of the Ray-Ban Meta AI smart glasses, which have already reached millions of users globally. Meta is clearly doubling down on the “smart eyewear” form factor as a cornerstone of its future consumer hardware ecosystem.
Oakley Integration Coming Soon
The Prada announcement arrives alongside news of other upcoming hardware expansions. Meta is also preparing a collaboration with Oakley, another brand under the EssilorLuxottica umbrella, as Bloomberg previously highlighted. Industry reports suggest these Oakley-branded smart glasses could be unveiled as early as this Friday, with an estimated price point hovering around $360.