Kaneko Optical Launches UROKO — 3D Printed Eyewear Inspired by Japanese Ceramics

Kaneko Optical, a Japanese eyewear brand, has released UROKO — a new limited-edition 3D printed eyewear model created for ISSEY MIYAKE MEN's Spring/Summer 2026 collection. The collection draws inspiration from the surface textures and forms of Japanese ceramics.

From Ceramics to Wearable Art

The UROKO collection represents a fusion of traditional Japanese craft aesthetics with modern additive manufacturing. The 3D printing process allows Kaneko Optical to create complex surface geometries that would be impossible or prohibitively expensive to produce with traditional manufacturing methods.

The design features concave lens structures — eight per frame — that create a distinctive visual identity while maintaining the functional requirements of eyewear.

Why 3D Printing for Eyewear?

3D printing offers several advantages for high-end eyewear:

• Design freedom: Complex geometries and organic forms become possible
• Customization: Potential for personalized fitting
• Material efficiency: No waste from subtractive manufacturing
• Prototyping: Faster iteration cycles for new designs

For luxury fashion brands, the technology allows designers to push aesthetic boundaries while maintaining the precision required for functional eyewear.

Part of a Larger Trend

The Kaneko Optical release follows other notable 3D printed eyewear developments, including Issey Miyake Eyes' eight-concave-lens sunglasses released earlier this month. Together, these releases signal growing interest in additive manufacturing as a production method for premium eyewear.

The intersection of fashion and 3D printing continues to expand, with material innovations and design tools making it increasingly viable for high-end, limited-production runs.