Fashion and technology are moving closer together. The latest example is Gucci-owner Kering, which says it aims to launch Gucci smart glasses with Google in 2027. The plan was revealed by Kering CEO Luca de Meo in an April 16, 2026 Reuters interview. If the project arrives on schedule, Gucci could become the first major luxury fashion brand to enter the AI smart-glasses market in a serious way. (investing.com)
This idea did not appear overnight. In May 2025, Kering Eyewear announced an official partnership with Google to develop AI-powered glasses using Android XR. Google later showed what Android XR glasses may do: they can work with a smartphone, use cameras, microphones, and speakers, and even include an optional display inside the lens. Google also said Gemini could help users send messages, get directions, take photos, make appointments, and translate speech in real time. In other words, these glasses are not just for style—they are meant to become a hands-free AI assistant you can wear all day. (keringeyewear.com)
The business side is also important. Kering is trying to reduce its dependence on Gucci’s traditional fashion sales, and eyewear is one area where the company is showing strength. In its first-quarter 2026 report, Kering said eyewear had its highest quarter ever, with sales of €489 million, up 7% on a comparable basis. That helps explain why smart glasses matter: they are not only a cool gadget, but also part of Kering’s wider strategy for growth. (kering.com)
Of course, Google and Kering are not entering an empty market. Reuters noted that the move would put them against EssilorLuxottica and Meta, whose Ray-Ban smart glasses are already well known. Meta later expanded that push with Oakley Meta glasses, and Meta said Ray-Ban Meta had sold millions of units since launch. So the real question is no longer whether smart glasses will become fashionable. The more exciting question is this: when AI glasses become beautiful, useful, and luxurious, will people start wearing them like normal glasses? (investing.com)










