Maison Henry Jullien, a luxury eyewear brand, received unexpected global attention after French President Emmanuel Macron was seen wearing one of its sunglasses. After his appearance, interest in the brand rose sharply, with many people looking to buy the same pair, according to the Guardian.
Maison Henry Jullien makes the sunglasses in the Jura region of eastern France, an area known for over a century of eyewear craftsmanship. Founded in 1921, the company is recognized for its traditional hand-assembly methods and small-scale production. In 2023, the Italian group iVision Tech bought the company.
Stefano Fulchir, president of iVision Tech, said the factory employs about 10 people and produces around 1,000 pairs of Pacific S 01, the model Macron wore, each year. The sunglasses sell for about €659 and are available through opticians in many countries.
Fulchir confirmed that in 2024, President Macron personally bought two pairs: one as a diplomatic gift for the G20 summit and one for himself. Macron also made sure the sunglasses were made entirely in France.
He wore the sunglasses at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this week, prompting jokes and online speculation. The real reason was straightforward: Macron was hiding a subconjunctival haemorrhage, a burst blood vessel in his right eye, which he later said was harmless.
