Branded sunglasses

Sunglasses are useful in both summer and winter. They protect your eyes from the sun's harmful rays. By wearing sunglasses, you can face and avoid the brightness and reflection of the sun's rays without blinking. No more glare, no more being blinded by light with sunglasses. The world's leading haute couture brands - Dior, Hugo Boss, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint-Laurent, Faconnable, Gucci, Guess, Nina Ricci, Cardin and many others - are proud to offer you frames that are at the cutting edge of fashion, sophisticated and chic, but always in tune with the latest trends.

The beginnings of sunglasses

Man has always tried to protect his eyes. Even today, the Inuit wear ivory masks that block the reflection of the snow. Nero himself, during the Roman Empire, watched gladiatorial combat on the white sands of the arena, through an emerald blade. It was in 1752 that an Englishman, James Ayscough, discovered by chance the filtration of ultraviolet rays while trying to improve the eyesight of his fellow students. But it wasn't until 1929 that Sam Foster marketed the very first sunglasses. The "Foster Grant" was born in the U.S.A. and was an instant success.

Such was its success that the U.S. Army asked Bausch & Lomb to create protective, wraparound sunglasses for its pilots. The RAY BAN brand was launched in 1937, at the same time as the AVIATOR sunglasses. These sunglasses feature a special, very dark lens designed by Bausch & Lomb. Thanks to the newly-developed polarizing filter, these lenses enabled U.S. Army pilots to fly unobstructed by light.

at the end of the '39/'45 war, RAY BAN Aviator sunglasses were introduced on French soil by US Army soldiers. With the liberation of France by the Allies, Aviator sunglasses conquered the hearts of men and women across Europe. They became a must-have for everyone, and a fixture in the most elegant of wardrobes. Even today, Aviator frames are part of the fashion movement. Virtually every high-fashion brand has taken up the famous model and adapted it to suit the spirit of their own fashion house.

At the end of the nineteenth century, the Julbo brand specialized in sunglasses for stonecutters and mountaineers. Today, the Julbo brand is world-renowned for offering a highly advanced collection of sunglasses for all sportsmen and women.

Tinted lenses give you high-quality vision

When the first sunglasses were developed, it was only important to tint the lenses green, gray or blue. Later, mineral material replaced glass. Today, polycarbonate is more widely used. It's resistant, much lighter and accepts more advanced treatments, notably for polarization. What's more, these lenses can be adapted to your eyesight, if required. UV filtration has become truly effective, with 100% of ultra-violet radiation not passing through your lenses. Optical techniques have gained in performance and value. The horizon opens up before your astonished eyes, and you can choose your sunglasses according to your own needs.

Over the years, fashions evolve and frames improve

Sunglasses come in different shapes, colors and materials. The choice is such that sunglasses become a fashion accessory in their own right. Many styles have emerged. The major brands are constantly creating and producing ever better sunglasses to meet all your fashion requirements and desires. There's something for every taste, style and fashion. From the smallest to the largest frame, over-size to sporty, chic to eccentric, everyone has a pair of sunglasses in their closet.

The extravagant design of some frames, more serious for others, makes you love them for sure. We can almost choose our frames. We can rewrite them to suit our aspirations by mixing colors, the shape of panoramic lenses or not, and the materials of which they are made: acetate, titanium, metal, wood, leather, gold and silver. Talented designer Philippe Starck, in collaboration with Alain Mikli, has developed a range of biolink sunglasses. The Flex frame is made of titanium, and the temples are unbreakable, some even folding. The eyewear manufacturers have perfected new manufacturing processes to offer you sunglasses with ideal optical and visual comfort, whatever the occasion and whatever the weather.

Sunglasses are much more than a fashion accessory

Your sunglasses will become your daily allies in visual health, as well as an indispensable fashion accessory. All the major brands offer collections of sunglasses that put fashion first. Timeless frames rub shoulders with eccentric, whimsical sunglass frames. The secret of this little fashion accessory is that it knows how to be discreet and noticeable at the same time. With sunglasses from the big and not-so-big brands, you'll always be at the height of fashion. Your frames stand out from the crowd and define you through the day and the seasons.

Sunglasses have entered the world of fashion and styling through the front door, and magazines devote entire pages to new optical collections every season. Sunglasses have been popular for over 80 years. They have become an essential fashion accessory in every wardrobe. Stylists, designers and fashion creators are well aware of this, and sunglasses have a major impact on the catwalks of some of the world's most renowned couturiers.

The current trend is towards wraparound frames, retro and vintage sunglasses, but with all that new technologies have to offer, and for the nostalgic, the eternal black bezel will always be a hit. Sunglasses will blend in with your personality or affirm your character, but they will always affirm your look.