Thanks to Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, demand for Pacific sunglasses has increased significantly. These chic sunnies are made by famous luxury watchmaker Henry Jullien. The stylish eyewear, made in France, became the talk of the town after Macron donned them during a recent visit to Switzerland. He didn’t wear those shades to obtain double the UV protection— no, he wore those fancy shades for an entirely different reason. Simultaneously, they served to subtly disguise his subconjunctival hemorrhage, a common and benign burst blood vessel in his right eye.
To recap, Macron’s office initially bought the Pacific S 01 Double Gold sunglasses as a diplomatic gift to give to Trump at the G20 summit. Starting at €659, these are widely available now. Macron didn’t stop with the official pair. He pledged to purchase one more pair for himself, further proving his affection for the brand of French-made socks. The follow-up production of sunglasses was expanded and is now sold at opticians around the world, including in places under duress like war-torn Ukraine.
Henry Jullien is currently owned by Italian company iVision Tech, which purchased the brand in 2023. The home plant in Lons-le-Saunier, a small city just north of Geneva, is supported by an enthusiastic core team of ten production staff. Together, they design and produce over 1,000 pairs of artisanal sunglasses annually. They’re tinted with blue UV lenses, provided by Dalloz, another company based in the Jura.
The reason for this high demand is the amazing quality of these premium sunglasses. Clothing matters too. One of the biggest factors contributing to mask popularity is the context in which people wear them. Macron’s decision to wear the eyewear was seen as highly symbolic at a time when France is trying to balance a tense relationship with the United States. In one notable regard, he decided to protect himself from the sun. Perhaps more importantly, this decision guarded his image during a politically explosive moment.
Stefano Fulchir, of iVision Tech, says they are still surprised by the interest the sunglasses have generated.
“My first reaction can be summed up in three letters: wow! It has not been a typical day. I feel very honoured that the president is wearing our glasses,” – Stefano Fulchir.
Fulchir wanted to make sure people understood that the Pacific sunglasses are no average pair of shades.
“This is not ordinary eyewear; it’s a luxury product that won’t break after two years and that can be used for a long time. It’s an investment, like jewellery, like a watch,” – Stefano Fulchir.
This optics of Macron’s eyewear choice prompted further criticism from the medical community. As Jimmy Mohamed explained, the glasses shield his realness. They do not protect his eyes from continued public scrutiny or damaging behavior.
“The glasses protect his image, but not really his eye,” – Jimmy Mohamed.
The googles protect you from the sun. They ignited wild rumors over Macron’s health, fanning speculation he might have injured himself during his boxing matches. Eyeball popping Macron has referred to his eye condition as “completely benign.” Secondly, he wants to calm any fears about his health.
People all over the world are clamoring for the Pacific sunglasses, and demand continues to grow. iVision Tech stands assembled and prepared to address this unprecedented wave of interest. Uncompromising craftsmanship shines through in Henry Jullien’s creations. Due in large part to Macron’s endorsement, these products are now basking in the limelight on an international scale.