Paris Olympics: Vuarnet Celebrates Sport and Innovation in an Exclusive Capsule Collection

It’s the ultimate summer accessory and a perfect souvenir from the Olympic Games in Paris. Vuarnet, one of the oldest and cutting-edge French eyewear manufacturers labelled Living Heritage Company, proposes a capsule collection of officially licensed sunglasses.

Presented to the press in the new Thélios showroom in Paris with a view overlooking the Scene (the LVMH eyewear excellence acquired Vuarnet last September), the ultra-limited edition offering features three iconic models revisited for the games. For instance, the extra-large Ice Round shape with a double bridge and signature detachable sides is now available in a black and golden combo (inspired by the colour of Olympic Gold), but also in blue, white and red - the hues of the French flag - for a special Equipe de France (“Team France”) edition. Sporty yet elegant, the Racing Regular model in bio nylon has also had a similar black and gold makeover. Finally, a new chunky and lightweight 3D-printed shape with side shields has been specifically developed for the Paris Olympics and Paralympic games: entitled the Oracles with a hint to Greek mythology, it is inspired by iconic archival models such as Legend 06 and Glacier. The sunglasses are available in two versions: in a deep blue frame and matching ice blue lenses with Equipe de France’s logo on the side lenses, and in a black frame with Olympic Gold lenses and an Olympic logo on the side lenses. For high-definition vision, all models in the collection are enhanced with Vuarnet breveted signature mineral glass lenses, considered the most resistant in the industry (even if you put it next to your keys in your bag, you will have zero scratches).

Vuarnet’s history is deeply linked to the Olympic movement. First of all, its founder, the renowned French ski champion Jean Vuarnet won the gold medal in downhill skiing while wearing the original 02 model at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. Pioneer in his sports discipline, Vuarnet is also credited with such innovations as the “egg,” or “tuck,” position and was the first to race in metal-edged skis - a revolution in his discipline at the time. But that’s not all: Vuarnet was an Official Sponsor of the 1982 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. At the time, the brand was so popular, that the weathermen every time it was sunny used to say: « It’s a Vuarnet day today ».

The collection is available in Official Olympic Boutiques during the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.

Courtesy: Vuarnet

Text: Lidia Ageeva