Vuarnet
{{Short description|French eyewear brand}}
{{for|the skier|Jean Vuarnet}}
{{Infobox brand
| name = Vuarnet
| logo = LOGO VUARNET TRICOLORE.jpg
| type = Eyewear
| currentowner = Sporoptic Pouilloux S.A.
| origin = France
| introduced = 1961
| discontinued =
| related =
| markets = Worldwide
| previousowners =
| trademarkregistrations =
| website = {{url|https://www.vuarnet.com/}}
}}
Vuarnet ({{IPA|fr|vyaʁnɛ}}) is a brand of sunglasses that is owned by French manufacturer Sporoptic Pouilloux S.A.[http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/887/887.F2d.1065.89-1079.89-1053.html 887 F.2d 1065]
History
The sunglasses were developed from the invention of the Skilynx lens in 1957 by French opticians Roger Pouilloux and Joseph Hatchiguian.{{Cite news |last=Vulser |first=Nicole |date=2009-12-17 |title=Alain Mikli International rachète les lunettes Vuarnet |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2009/12/17/alain-mikli-international-rachete-les-lunettes-vuarnet_1282065_3234.html |access-date=2024-10-25 |language=fr}}
The 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, an agreement was reached in 1961 to market the sunglasses using his surname as the brand name.{{Cite web |url=http://www.vuarnet-international.com/en/histo_keysmoments.php |title=Vuarnet Official Site |access-date=2012-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117063920/http://www.vuarnet-international.com/en/histo_keysmoments.php |archive-date=2010-01-17 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite magazine |last1=Sidell |first1=Misty White |last2=Foreman |first2=Katya |date=2017-01-04 |title=Jean Vuarnet, eyewear icon and champion skier, dies at 83 |url=http://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/eyewear-icon-champion-skiier-jean-vuarnet-10737656/ |access-date=2017-07-02 |magazine=Women's Wear Daily |language=en-US}} The brand released many products, but sunglasses remained its most popular item.{{Cite journal |last=Aaker |first=David |date=1990-07-15 |title=Brand Extensions: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly |url=https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/brand-extensions-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/ |journal=MIT Sloan Management Review |language=en-US}}
The company was an official corporate sponsor of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
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. In 2017, the company officially became an {{ill|Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant|fr}} (Living Heritage Company).{{Cite web |date=2017-10-27 |title=La marque Vuarnet classée « Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant » |url=https://www.frequenceoptic.fr/actualites/la-marque-vuarnet-classee-entreprise-du-patrimoine-vivant.html |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.frequenceoptic.fr |language=fr-fr}}
In 2023, Vuarnet was acquired by LVMH's eyewear subsidiary Thelios.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-05 |title=LVMH’s Thelios Acquires French Eyewear Brand Vuarnet |url=https://www.businessoffashion.com/news/luxury/lvmhs-thelios-acquires-french-eyewear-brand-vuarnet/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=The Business of Fashion |language=en}}
In the popular culture
The following actors wore Vuarnet sunglasses in the following movies:
- Alain Delon in the movie La Piscine (1969){{Cite news |last=Faguer |first=Astrid |date=2023-11-19 |title=Les secrets de fabrications des lunettes Vuarnet |url=https://www.lesechos.fr/weekend/mode-beaute/les-secrets-de-fabrications-des-lunettes-vuarnet-2029949 |access-date=2024-10-10 |work=Les Échos |language=fr}}
- Tom Selleck in the television series Magnum, P.I.{{Cite news |last=Lucas |first=Jillian |date=2018-09-24 |title=Vuarnet Brings Back Iconic Glasses for ‘Magnum P.I.’ |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/vuarnet-brings-back-iconic-glasses-for-magnum-pi |access-date=2024-10-10 |work=Daily Beast}}
- Jeff Bridges in the movie The Big Lebowski (1998){{Cite web |date=2019-12-05 |title=Gear News: Vuarnet Releases Classic Jeff Bridges 'The Dude' Sunglasses |url=https://www.mensjournal.com/gear/jeff-bridges-wears-signature-vuarnet-sunglasses |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Men's Journal |language=en}}
- Daniel Craig in the James Bond movie Spectre (2015)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.vuarnet.com/}}