AS contact lens designs continue to evolve, a local brand is stepping in to reshape the landscape with innovation tailored to Malaysian users.
While non-rotating lenses have already gained traction overseas, Conique brings the concept closer to home by introducing designs that enhance stability while catering to local aesthetic preferences, particularly in coloured and highlight-style lenses.
Conique’s zero spin lenses were first introduced in March through its “Pinky Promise” launch, marking its initial step into the Malaysian market.
Unlike traditional lenses that may shift or rotate, causing highlights to appear uneven, the zero spin lens uses a weighted design aimed at minimising rotation for a more consistent visual appearance.
This innovation responds to a common frustration among users, especially those wearing cosmetic lenses, where lens movement throughout the day can affect overall appearance and require frequent checks in mirrors or phone cameras.
The brand is led by 26-year-old Sabahan founder Vivian, a Diploma graduate in Creative New Media Technology from Raffles College. Drawing on five years of experience as a graphic designer, she approaches the business with a strong focus on creativity and user expression, encouraging individuals to explore new styles beyond familiar looks.
Conique is also known for its distinctive colourway designs, which are not commonly found elsewhere.
The brand adheres to Malaysia’s regulatory requirements, ensuring all products are certified by the Medical Device Authority (MDA) following the necessary testing and approval processes.
In an exclusive Q&A with Sarawak Tribune, Conique shares its vision, insights and customer responses to its innovation.
ST: What inspired the development of your zero spin lenses and who are they designed for?
Vivian: Our zero spin lenses are inspired by toric lenses, which are contact lenses with a weighted structure designed to improve stability. They also have different powers in different parts of the lens for people with astigmatism. Astigmatism affects vision because the eye is not perfectly round, causing lenses to shift or rotate and reduce visual clarity.
We adapted this idea by ensuring the lens stays in place even when blinking, providing more consistent and stable vision. In addition, the lens colour will not blur vision due to its stable positioning.
Many people are curious about it, especially regular lens users. For most, the concern is preventing highlights from moving, while for cosplayers, the appeal lies mainly in the colour. It is also suitable for users with astigmatism who are open to trying weighted lenses although we do not offer toric power.
What makes Conique stand out among contact lens brands?
Many established overseas brands already produce weighted lenses. I wanted to introduce something new with our zero spin version, starting with a pink design that highlights the technology while offering a unique and eye-catching colourway.
I also noticed that many brands tend to focus on fair skin users, with designs that do not always reflect Malaysia’s diverse skin tones. This can leave medium tan and tan skin users without suitable references. We aim to promote representation by featuring models from different Malaysian communities, including Chinese, Malay, Indian and others, in our advertising.
We also consider not only skin tone, but eye shape and natural iris colour, recognising that some people have darker eyes while others have lighter irises. These differences are reflected in our designs. As this is our first product and there is no clear local benchmark, we also conducted a small-scale study with around 20 loyal customers to gather feedback on comfort, colour suitability, and wearability. This helps guide future improvements and upcoming launches.
What challenges did you face in introducing this technology locally?
As the first zero spin lenses launched in Malaysia, many people are still unfamiliar with the concept of weighted lenses. The main challenge has been educating consumers as it is a new idea and some may not immediately understand its purpose or may assume it is the same as conventional lenses.
Others may not have tried highlight-style lenses before where rotation is more noticeable. As a result, some users may not realise their lenses are shifting because their designs are subtle.
Even so, we prioritise transparency and education by involving customers in the learning process. This is why Conique’s social media platforms focus on explaining the product and its benefits.
How has the feedback from Malaysian consumers been so far?
Besides the pink zero spin lens, we also offer bluish grey and purple shades. We are not launching only conventional colours such as brown or dark grey as I personally prefer more innovative and expressive colourways.
At first, many customers are sceptical when I recommend certain shades but they usually end up loving the final look. It is rewarding to see them enjoy colours they did not expect to suit them. While natural shades like brown and grey remain popular for everyday wear, I also encourage people to step out of their comfort zone and try something different.
Our colours are designed to suit Malaysian users while still offering something unique. Surprisingly, these unexpected shades are well received by individuals with medium tan and tan skin tones. It is about giving people the opportunity to explore different styles and build confidence in trying something new.
Although we have received strong support for our statement colours, we are also developing new additions to expand beyond bold styles into more wearable daily shades such as browns and greys, offering both innovation and versatility in future releases.
Looking ahead, do you see this as the beginning of more advanced vision care innovation in Malaysia?
Definitely. This is an exciting milestone for us. Being the first to introduce zero spin lenses signals the beginning of what we believe is possible in advancing the vision care landscape in Malaysia. There is significant room for further innovation, particularly in improving comfort, stability, and overall visual performance to better meet different user needs.
At the same time, we are focused on making our products more accessible and engaging. We regularly participate in pop-up booths at various events to connect with the public and raise awareness. We also have a dedicated office at 1-20, Tingkat 1, Jalan Serdang Raya, Sek 7, Plaza Serdang Raya, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, where customers can visit for assistance, product information and after-sales support, including pick-up services.
Through these efforts, we aim to continuously enhance both innovation and customer experience in Malaysia’s vision care industry.
