On Wednesday night in New York, Marc Jacobs and Safilo Group will launch their fall eyewear collection, “The Sunglasses.”
Enhancing Marc Jacobs’ contemporary line of eyewear, “The Sunglasses” are the first eyewear introduced in Jacobs’ popular collection “The Item” (i.e., The Tote Bag), which was introduced in 2019 and now consists of a vast assortment of bags, wallets, and accessories. While Jacobs has previously collaborated with Safilo on sunglasses, this is a special series.
“Our relationship with Marc Jacobs is a long-standing one that began in 2004 and was renewed in April until December 2031,” Safilo Group CEO Angelo Trocchia said in a statement.
“We’ve been making special things for 20 years. It’s a great story,” Trocchia said. “Now they’re launching ‘The Sunglasses’ collection, which is in line with Jacobs’ ‘The Items’ collection. Eyewear is finally joining the club,” he said.
The Sunglasses are offered in three unisex shapes, all branded with codes inspired by Marc Jacobs’ ready-to-wear and accessories collections. Crafted from bold acetate, the edgy shapes feature the Sunglasses logo prominently on the temples to make a strong fashion statement.
Marc Jacobs sunglasses.
Courtesy of Safilo
In keeping with the brand’s irreverent ethos, the eyewear comes in a monochromatic palette paired with solid, shaded or mirrored lenses, and retails for between $150 and $175.
Highlights include the Marc 773/S sunglasses, featuring oversized wraparound frames and available in black with grey lenses, white with silver mirrored lenses, red with grey lenses and silver with silver mirrored lenses.
The Marc 774/S sunglasses feature a geometric frame and are available in black with grey shaded lenses, havana with brown shaded lenses, ivory with brown shaded lenses and pink with grey shaded lenses.
The Marc 775/S sunglasses have a flat-top rectangular frame and are available in black with grey shaded lenses, havana with brown shaded lenses, ivory with brown shaded lenses and red with brown shaded lenses.
The sunglasses will be available from September in Marc Jacobs stores, online, at US department stores such as Bloomingdale’s, and at select optical retailers around the world.
Marc Jacobs sunglasses.
Courtesy of Safilo
Trocchia said Marc Jacobs eyewear is “selling very well.”
“We’re doing very well in North America and also in Europe, particularly in France and Italy. We’re very pleased with that and we really believe North America represents a great growth opportunity over the next few years,” he said. While eyewear remains a big part of the business, “Sun is relevant and we expect to grow even more with the launch of this special collection,” he said.
Regarding the difference between Jacobs and other designer brands, Trocchia said, “Marc is very specific in terms of color and consistency. They embrace innovation in their products and their status as a fashion house. That’s why they’re so successful. They use special materials in their products and we believe that it works. There is consistency with Marc’s so-called item collections. You will see consistency between the eyewear collection and the other accessory collections. There will be a consistent message.”
Upon renewing the license agreement in April last year, Trocchia said: “Since the start of our partnership in 2004, we have had a lucrative collaboration to make Marc Jacobs an iconic landmark in the eyewear category, offering unique and highly distinctive models in every collection. Over the last two decades, the brand has grown to be one of the most iconic names in Safilo’s contemporary luxury offerings, with a strong global appeal for both men and women, and there are still many new opportunities for it to grow not only in its core US market but around the world.”
Safilo licenses brands such as Marc Jacobs, Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Carolina Herrera, David Beckham, Dsquared, Etro, Kate Spade New York, Rag & Bone and Isabel Marant. Brands owned by Safilo include Carrera, Polaroid, Safilo, Smith, Blenders and Privee Leveaux.