SAN FRANCISCO—Tandy Brands Accessories (Nasdaq:TBAC) has announced the addition of a new eyewear division which expands their presence as a fashion accessories company into the category of reading glasses.

“Eyewear is quickly emerging as a growth category in the fashion accessories sector,” said Rod McGeachy, president and CEO of Tandy Brands. “Over the past 20 years, the reading glass market has evolved from a commodity purchased in a drug store, to a true fashion accessory. Our research indicates that 44 percent of current reading glasses users consider them to be a fashion accessory, versus just 29 percent in 2005.”

Tandy Brands Accessories, Inc. designs and markets fashion accessories for men, women and children. Their key product categories include belts, wallets, handbags, suspenders, gifts and sporting goods under a range of private labels and licensed brands. The company said that the new eyewear division will offer private label, branded and licensed eyewear products to its retail partners.

“Initial retailer response to our eyewear product line has been very encouraging, whether it is department stores, specialty retailers or mass merchants,” continued McGeachy. “The consumer buying readers is also purchasing belts, wallets and neckwear. This enables Tandy Brands to partner at a greater level with our retail partners in providing them with a broad array of accessories products.”

The company expects to start shipping the new eyewear line, sourced in China, on July 1, 2009, and according to the company it already has agreements in place with multiple suppliers. Additionally, Tandy plans to continually expand their distribution channels to include optical and sunwear.