Vuarnet

For the skier, see Jean Vuarnet.
Vuarnet
Product typeEyewear
OwnerSporoptic Pouilloux S.A.
CountryFrance
Introduced1961
MarketsWorldwide
Websitewww.vuarnet.com

Vuarnet (French pronunciation: [vyaʁnɛ]) is a premium heritage brand of sunglasses founded in 1957 that is owned by French manufacturer Sporoptic Pouilloux S.A.[1] Thélios (LVMH) acquired Sporoptic Pouilloux S.A. and Vuarnet in 2023.

History

The sunglasses were developed from the invention of the Skilynx lens in 1957 by French opticians Roger Pouilloux and Joseph Hatchiguian.[2] Skilynx are special, coated, yellow mirror lenses designed to enhance perception of contrasts in conditions of white-out[3] as well as reducing the effects of snow glare. Allowing skiers to better discern variations in snowy terrain without distortion.[4]

The anti-glare sunglasses were originally marketed under the name 'Skilynx Acier', and they were provided to the French Ski Team. After Jean Vuarnet, a French alpine ski racer, won the gold medal in the Downhill at the 1960 Winter Olympics while wearing cat eye model "02", an agreement was reached in 1961 to market the sunglasses using his surname as the brand name.[3][5][6] In 1974 Vuarnet branched out to mountaineering eyewear by introducing its 'Glacier' model of glacier glasses, which were worn by French alpinist Jean Afanassieff [fr] during the first successful French expedition to the summit of Mount Everest in 1978.[7][8]

Vuarnet PX Pouilloux Skilynx sunglasses (model 002) from the 1980's

The company was an official corporate sponsor of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Vuarnet was in its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s[9], widely known for their bold mirrored lenses and colorful frames.[10] The brand released many (related) products, such as ski equipment and apparel, but sunglasses remained its most popular item.[11]

By the 2000s the brand faded from prominence and had left the US market.[4] In 2009, 75% of Vuarnet was purchased by Alain Mikli. The company then made 40 million euros in revenue, but -10 million euros in losses.[2] Neo Investment Partners acquired Vuarnet out of bankruptcy in 2014 and set out to turn the brand around.[12] Under the new ownership and management Vuarnet re-entered the North American market with selective distribution, starting in ski resorts in Colorado and Whistler, Canada and expanding from there, with an expanded model range averaging $275 (€220) in price targeting affluent urban professionals with active lifestyles.[13] In 2017, the company officially became an Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant [fr] (Living Heritage Company).[14]

In 2023, Vuarnet and its parent company Sporoptic Pouilloux S.A. were acquired by LVMH's eyewear subsidiary Thélios.[15] Vuarnet is one of the last eyewear brands to still produce their own mineral lenses, in Meaux near Paris.[16][4]

The following actors wore Vuarnet sunglasses in the following movies:

Alain Delon wearing Vuarnet model 006 in 1967 on the set of The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968)

Other notable celebrities known for wearing Vuarnet sunglasses were Mick Jagger, Romy Schneider and Miles Davis.[18] During the 2025 Sun Valley Conference OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared "I don’t like smart glasses"[22] while wearing large white-rimmed Vuarnet mountaineering sunglasses.[23][24]

References

  1. ^ 887 F.2d 1065
  2. ^ a b Vulser, Nicole (2009-12-17). "Alain Mikli International rachète les lunettes Vuarnet" (in French). Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  3. ^ a b Foreman, Misty White Sidell,Katya (2017-01-04). "Jean Vuarnet, Eyewear Icon and Champion Skiier, Dies at 83". WWD. Retrieved 2026-01-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b c Bastone, Kelly (2018-02-06). "Vuarnet: France's Most Iconic Sunglasses Are Making a Comeback". AFAR Media. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  5. ^ "Vuarnet Official Site". Archived from the original on 2010-01-17. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
  6. ^ Sidell, Misty White; Foreman, Katya (2017-01-04). "Jean Vuarnet, eyewear icon and champion skier, dies at 83". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  7. ^ "Vuarnet, la marque de lunettes de soleil qui retrouve les sommets". Le Nouvel Obs (in French). 2025-02-11. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  8. ^ Ski, I. Love (2025-08-30). "Vuarnet Glacier 02 Eclipse : l'héritage alpin à l'épreuve de l'innovation". I Love Ski ® (in French). Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  9. ^ Dromard, Thiébault (2016-04-24). "Comment Vuarnet veut surfer sur le haut de gamme". Challenges (in French). Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  10. ^ "History of Eyewear: Vuarnet Sunglasses | Opticianado". Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  11. ^ Aaker, David (1990-07-15). "Brand Extensions: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly". MIT Sloan Management Review.
  12. ^ UK, FashionNetwork com (2024-05-30). "David Belhassen on rebuilding Valextra, guiding Victoria Beckham, selling Vuarnet and buying Tom Dixon". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  13. ^ WW, FashionNetwork com (2014-11-03). "Vuarnet striving to become the luxury eyewear leader in the USA". FashionNetwork.com. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  14. ^ "La marque Vuarnet classée « Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant »". www.frequenceoptic.fr (in French). 2017-10-27. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  15. ^ "LVMH's Thelios Acquires French Eyewear Brand Vuarnet". The Business of Fashion. 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  16. ^ Hirschmiller, Stephanie. "LVMH's Eyewear Outfit Thélios Buys French Outdoor Brand Vuarnet". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  17. ^ a b Faguer, Astrid (2023-11-19). "Les secrets de fabrications des lunettes Vuarnet". Les Échos (in French). Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  18. ^ a b "Gli occhiali da sole degli eroi del cinema". Esquire (in Italian). 2018-08-05. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  19. ^ Lucas, Jillian (2018-09-24). "Vuarnet Brings Back Iconic Glasses for 'Magnum P.I.'". Daily Beast. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  20. ^ "Gear News: Vuarnet Releases Classic Jeff Bridges 'The Dude' Sunglasses". Men's Journal. 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  21. ^ "James Bond Likes His Sunglasses Like He Likes His Girlfriends (French and Opaque)". Esquire. 2021-10-05. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
  22. ^ Peters, Jay (2025-07-09). "Sam Altman: "I don't like smart glasses."". The Verge. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  23. ^ Wickman, Kase (2025-07-14). "Melania Trump and Sam Altman Share an Unlikely Twinning Moment". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
  24. ^ Hart, Jordan. "The luxury sunglasses worn by CEOs and tech leaders". Business Insider. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuarnet