What You Should Know About Chinese New Year Delays (and How to Avoid Them)

Every year, between late January and mid-February, the eyewear supply chain enters its most unpredictable period — the Chinese New Year (CNY).
Many new or growing brands underestimate its impact, only to find out too late that factories are closed, schedules are fully booked, and shipping cuts off much earlier than expected.

If you're planning next year’s releases, managing wholesale orders, or developing new acetate and metal frames, CNY isn’t just a holiday — it’s a critical production deadline.

Here’s what you need to know, and more importantly, how to stay ahead of the delays.

1. Why CNY Causes Production Delays (Even Before the Holiday Begins)

In the eyewear industry, CNY affects much more than the final assembly stage.
A typical China eyewear factory relies on a long chain of upstream suppliers:

• Acetate sheet suppliers

• Metal parts factories

• Lens suppliers

• Hinge manufacturers

• Electroplating workshops

• Packaging factories

All of them shut down for anywhere from 10 to 20 days, and many reduce capacity weeks prior as workers begin returning to their hometowns.

This is why eyewear production delays often start 30–45 days before the actual holiday. By the time CNY officially begins, the entire supply chain is already operating at half-capacity.

2. The Hidden Risk: Skilled Workers Leave Early and Return Late

Eyewear is a craft—not a simple assembly line.
If you’ve visited a factory, you’ll know how many steps rely on experienced hands:

• Acetate polishing

• Hand-beveling

• Bridge forming and shaping

• Rim-lock adjustment

• QC fine tuning

• Hinge rivet assembly

During CNY, experienced technicians may take extended leave.
When factories reopen, production does not instantly return to normal; instead, the line ramps up gradually because:

• New workers need training

• Returning workers need time to readjust

• Backlogged orders pile up waiting for production slots

This is why post-CNY lead times are the longest of the entire year.

3. How Early Should Brands Place Orders to Avoid Delays?

Here is the reality most eyewear suppliers won’t tell you directly:

If you need delivery before CNY, you'd better left 1 month more than the regular lead time.

And for new development or custom designs, planning should begin in October–November.

A practical guideline:

• New collection development: Start 110–120 days before CNY

• Reorders: Confirm quantities at least 90-100 days before CNY

• Metal frame/combination frames: Plan additional buffer

• Electroplating-heavy designs: Lock in designs extra early due to plating queue

If you wait until December to start development, your products will almost certainly be delayed until after the holiday — sometimes by 6–10 weeks.

4. What Makes CNY Delays Worse in the Eyewear Industry?

A few factors are unique to eyewear:

A. Acetate Material Shortages

Acetate sheet suppliers often sell out of popular SKUs (especially tortoise, black, crystal, or trending seasonal colors) before CNY.
If you’re building a collection, secure materials early.

B. Electroplating Capacity Bottlenecks

Metal and combination frames clog plating factories every January.
A queue that normally takes 7 days can suddenly take 25.

C. Logistic Cut-Off Dates

Shipping companies stop collecting cargo 1–2 weeks before the holiday.
Even finished goods may sit in warehouses awaiting departure.

5. How to Avoid CNY Production Delays (Practical Tips from a Factory Perspective)

Here’s what we advise our own customers at Bright Eyewear:

✔ Start development early — October and November are golden months

These months determine whether your Spring/Summer collection launches smoothly.

✔ Approve samples quickly

Many brands lose time not because of factories, but because samples sit unreviewed for weeks.

✔ Freeze colors and materials early

Especially acetate — once a batch is gone, restocking after CNY is uncertain.

✔ Avoid overly complex new structures right before CNY

If you’re unsure about the engineering, finalize it earlier.
CNY is not the time for risky new hinge systems or experimental temple constructions.

✔ Communicate upcoming quantities

Even an estimated PO helps factories reserve capacity in advance.

✔ Consider partial shipments

For tight timelines, send some colors/models earlier to keep your B2B partners supplied.

6. What Bright Eyewear Does to Help Brands Navigate the CNY Rush

As a leading China eyewear factory focusing on acetate, metal, and injection production, we help customers avoid delays through:

• Early-Season Development Support

We guide brands on structuring their development timeline so they don’t get hit by CNY bottlenecks.

• Pre-CNY Capacity Planning

For long-term customers, we reserve production slots based on early forecasting.

• Material Pre-Booking

We help secure acetate sheets, hinges, and temple cores before suppliers slow down.

• Engineering Support for Quick Turnaround

We evaluate potential structural risks early so you don’t waste development time before CNY.

• Transparent Production Updates

We keep you informed about material status, line capacity, and shipping cut-offs.

The goal is simple:
No surprises. No missed launches. No “post-CNY shock.”

7. Final Thoughts: CNY Delays Are Predictable — If You Act Early

Chinese New Year shouldn’t be a stressful unknown.
It’s a predictable part of the eyewear manufacturing calendar — and the brands who plan ahead always outperform those who don’t.

If you’re preparing your Spring/Summer or Fall/Winter 2026 collections, now is the perfect time to start reviewing your timelines, sample approval status, and material choices.

And if you’d like support in planning or production, our team at Bright Eyewear is always here to help you get ahead of the rush.

👉 Explore our manufacturing services here or contact us for a quote.