A pair of sunglasses worn by the French President at a major international summit has triggered an unprecedented surge of interest for a small, historic eyewear manufacturer.
The President appeared at the World Economic Forum in Davos wearing reflective aviator-style sunglasses, a look that immediately dominated social media and news coverage, overshadowing the event’s official agenda. While speculation swirled about the reason for the eyewear—ranging from a sports injury to a diplomatic statement—the official explanation was medical. The President was covering a minor, burst blood vessel in his eye, a condition he later described in a lighthearted, pop-culture reference to his “determination.”
For the craftsmen at Maison Henry Jullien, a workshop in France’s Jura region with over a century of history, the presidential appearance was an immeasurable marketing coup. The company’s president reported being stunned when the news broke, describing the day as anything but ordinary. The sudden global attention even caused the firm’s website to crash.
According to the company, the presidential office had contacted them previously to purchase the specific model, a high-end pair crafted with a traditional gold-bonding technique. They emphasized that the President insisted on personally paying for the glasses and was meticulous in verifying their entirely French origin.
The sunglasses, which feature hand-assembly and lenses from another local Jura company, are positioned as a luxury investment item. Production is limited, with only about a thousand units of that particular model made annually by a team of ten artisans. While available in opticians globally, the brand has yet to establish distribution in the United Kingdom.
Beyond the fashion statement, some commentators suggested the choice of purely French-made luxury goods carried subtle symbolic weight, while a medical analyst noted the glasses served more to protect the President’s public image than his actual eye. Regardless of the interpretation, the incident has cast an intense spotlight on a traditional atelier, proving that in the modern media landscape, a single presidential accessory can command the world’s attention.