Thélios acquires iconic french Eyewear brand Vuarnet

Thélios announces the acquisition from NEO Investment Partners of Vuarnet, the renowned French high-end outdoor sunglass brand, strong of its over 60 years of heritage and pioneering manufacturing of mineral lenses.  

It is Thélios first brand acquisition, which marks an important milestone in the development of the LVMH eyewear company, expanding its presence in the luxury eyewear industry through this proprietary brand. Vuarnet perfectly blends in the Thélios’ portfolio of LVMH luxury Maisons through its unique brand positioning at the crossroads of outdoors and fashion. Thélios aims to restore the brand’s former glory, empowering Vuarnet to further elevate its product quality and push the boundaries of innovation.  

Founded in 1957 by the optician Roger Pouilloux and French ski Olympic gold medallist Jean Vuarnet, the Vuarnet brand has established itself through its excellent craftsmanship, seamlessly fusing innovation, performance, and timeless style. Born in the mountains, Vuarnet has been sported by outdoor enthusiasts on and off the slopes over the past six decades. The brand also gained popularity on the big screen, immortalized by Alain Delon in The Swimming Pool (1969), Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski (1998) or Daniel Craig in James Bond – Spectrum (2015) and many more. Vuarnet’s iconic styles have ever since built a strong community of brand loyalists, including numerous celebrities.  

Vuarnet is renowned for its undisputed know-how, being one of the few eyewear brands to produce its own mineral lenses. Its manufacturing site located in Meaux, has been certified by the French government as “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” (Living Heritage Company). Complementing Thélios’ Maisons in terms of brand positioning, Vuarnet’s best-in-class mineral lenses expertise will benefit Thélios to expand its know-how in this area. 

“We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Vuarnet, becoming Thélios’ first proprietary brand” said Alessandro Zanardo, CEO of Thélios, “Vuarnet is a legendary brand, with a unique history that deserves to be preserved and perpetuated. Its iconic design, its unique know-how on mineral lenses and its strong brand values, are a perfect match with our ethos and positioning.”  

The alliance will grant Vuarnet access to Thélios’ extensive resources, including research and development capabilities, technical expertise, and global reach, propelling the brand’s growth and global expansion.