Legacy

Vuarnet has a story, it’s unique. It began on Rue Boissy d’Anglas in Paris in 1957 where Roger Pouilloux had his workshop. This avant-garde optician, passionate about skiing, will revolutionize the sunglasses world by inventing an exceptional glass that can protect his eyes on the slopes and provide a clear vision of the landscape relief in overcast weather.

1957 THE INVENTION OF THE SKILYNX

Roger Pouilloux, an avant-garde optician and ski enthusiast, invents the revolutionary Skilynx™ lens.

1960 THE VUARNET BRAND IS BORN

"One optician wanted me to test some lenses. I wore them during the downhill of the Olympic Games…They were phenomenal! Then, he proposed me a deal…I could not resist" Jean Vuarnet

 
It was a meeting between Roger Pouilloux and Jean Vuarnet in 1959 that led to the creation of the legendary brand VUARNET. During this meeting, Roger Pouilloux offered the French ski champion the 02 sunglasses model as a token of his admiration. These sunglasses, equipped with the luminous Skilynx™ mineral glass lenses, enabled Jean Vuarnet to further improve his performance. They highlighted contrasts and enhanced depth perception, a major asset when competing in downhill ski racing. Several months later, during the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics, Jean Vuarnet took home the gold medal. 

Following this victory the two men, who shared a common passion for performance, forged a friendship and decided to join forces in creating a brand that embodied their vision: innovation, high-performance, and French elegance. The brand VUARNET was born.

THE "EGG" POSITION

Jean Vuarnet was a pioneer in his sport discipline, always looking for ways to improve his performance. He developed the “egg” position which racers have been using ever since, and was the first to use metal-edged skis, which have now become the norm.

THE 60'S : 02 MODEL, THE TIMELESS ICON

The 02 remains the icon of Vuarnet through every generation. Adopted by personalities like Romy Schneider and Mick Jagger.

06 MODEL, FRENCH GLAMOUR

The 06 attains a legendary status after protecting Alain Delon’s eyes from the luminous Romy Schneider in the cult movie La Piscine (1969).

THE 70'S GLACIER MODEL, FUNCTION & PERFORMANCE

In 1974 Vuarnet’s first Glacier model, designed for moutainaeering, is released. Jean Afanassieff, the talented French mountaineer was one of the first to adopt the frame. He was lead climber of the French team that summited Everest on October 16, 1978. Success of this model grew rapidly to seduce personalities such as Miles Davis, who wore them regularly on stage.

THE CALIFORNIAN SPIRIT

Vuarnet and the 03 became famous thanks to Jeff Bridges - The Dude - in The Big Lebowski from the Coen brothers’ (1998).

THE 80'S THE AMERICAN DREAM

VUARNET makes its grand debut in the U.S. as an official sponsor of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Weathermen coin the term « It’s a Vuarnet day today » when describing the beautiful Southern California sunshine. It’s a new era for the brand with the U.S. as its first market, driving a worldwide success.

THE 90'S FROM SUNGLASSES TO A GLOBAL BRAND

Major success of sportswear in the U.S. The Vuarnet logo becomes an Icon!

In addition to sunglasses, Vuarnet starts to develop a full skiwear collection for men and women. Colorful or more classical, there is something for every taste!

2015 THE REBIRTH OF THE GLACIER

Since first created in the 70s, VUARNET’s famous glacier glasses have remained a symbol of performance and quality. Designed for mountain peaks, these glasses were worn by the greatest mountaineers as well as the most famous secret agent in history, James Bond in Spectre. It became a reference and a style icon.

2017 OPENING OF THE FIRST PARIS FLAGSHIP

For its 60th anniversary, Vuarnet went back back to its roots, opening its first store at 28 rue Boissy d’Anglas, where the brand was founded in 1957.

THE EXCELLENCE OF FRENCH KNOW HOW

The French State labeled VUARNET and its factory as Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant,
a unique mark of recognition rewarding French firms for the excellence of their traditional and industrial know-how

BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS

Proven by expeditions and trusted by athletes, our frames go beyond the mountaineering world: Romy Schneider, Alain Delon, Mick Jagger, Miles Davis, Kurt Russel, Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniel Craig, Vincent Cassel, Zendaya... have all worn Vuarnet. Since 1957, the brand has offered timeless classic iconic frames that are still bestsellers.

2018 OPENING OF A SECOND BOUTIQUE IN NEW YORK

39 SPRING STREET IN SOHO

The 1,000 square foot space opened its doors July 14, timed to coincide with Bastille Day. The boutique offers an immersive brand experience and features the full range of Vuarnet sunglasses as well as new categories to the U.S. market to include skiwear, apparel, tees and hoodies.

2021 : THE GLACIER ICON OF THE MOUNTAIN

Vuarnet reveals its highly anticipated new Glacier collection, which is the culmination of three years of research and development. It is the most advanced Glacier yet.

2022 : NEW PARISIAN BOUTIQUE

Vuarnet redesigned its Parisian flagship boutique located in the center of Paris at 28 rue Boissy d’Anglas, where the brand was founded in 1957. The boutique evokes the cozy interior of a mountain lodge so that guests can enjoy the feeling of escaping from the city. It showcases the alpine environment with rugged geology elements and natural textures.

VUARNET DEBUTS AT PARIS FASHION WEEK 2022

Vuarnet asserts its expertise as a French Mountain House by presenting its Autumn-Winter 2023 ready-to-wear collection at Paris Men's Fashion Week in January 2022, as well as its Spring-Summer 2023 collection at Paris Fashion Week in June 2022.

VUARNET AT PARIS FASHION WEEK 2023

The collections pay homage to what Jean Vuarnet stood for through duality: blending active silhouettes and hi-tech garments with more artisanal and locally made knitwear and alpinewear. The lookbook edit also illustrated a certain duality, with two contrasting images per look: an analog garment focused photo, without environment or fantasy, is facing an AI generated interpretation of the same image in a "natural" environment.