Podcast: Thomas et Matthieu Lafont (Lafont) posent les bases du "recyclage créatif" dans la lunetterie de luxe

By

Emma RUFFENACH

Published
Sep 22, 2023

Thomas and Matthieu Lafont, heirs to the French eyewear house of the same name, were the latest guests on the LuxurynsightXFashionNetwork podcast. The brothers, who are respectively creative director and CEO of the family business, sat down with Olivier Guyot, FashionNetwork.com's editor-in-chief France, to discuss their heritage and the dynamics of the luxury eyewear market.


In 2017, the brothers took over at the head of this company, which has remained independent since 1923. One hundred years of a family saga that has established eyewear as an essential fashion accessory to complement any outfit. An inspiring legacy and mission for the duo.

Ads

"We're proud to be 100 years old," smiles Matthieu Lafont, "and that makes us want to go further and look to the future. It's important for everyone, for the teams at head office, for our shops, for our optician reseller customers, our sales staff, etc."

To stand out from other major players such as EssilorLuxottica in the highly competitive luxury eyewear market, Lafont is adopting a very chic, classic style with a creative twist and a touch of extravagance, offering pairs in round and even square shapes, and original colours, while highlighting its eyewear expertise. 

"We work on the added value of the product, its history, its authenticity, its quality (which is fundamental for us), its manufacturing origin, etc. 95% of the collection is Made in France and 80% of the range is certified Origine France Garantie," explain Matthieu and Thomas Lafont, who also revisit the company's archives and successes to keep up with the latest trends.

In a sector marked by the rise of the licensing giants, the duo at the helm of Lafont make a point of "working with independents, opticians who want to choose products that speak to them and their consumers."

The duo explain their strategies for maintaining their creativity and guaranteeing top-of-the-range supplies, while devoting themselves to research and development, particularly with regard to ovens and industrial techniques. The family-run business is agile in terms of its size and organisation, and takes an eco-responsible approach by offering exclusive limited-edition pairs made using upcycling or 'creative recycling' techniques. 

"When we came out of confinement in 2020, Thomas had the idea of using tonnes of raw acetate sheets that we had in a hangar in the Jura region, and we found out from one of our suppliers in France about a recomposition solution using 50% old acetate and 50% new acetate, to create new materials and new colours," explain Matthieu and Thomas Lafont.

In this episode, the brothers also explain the consumer trends in the eyewear market, which has been turned upside down since the pandemic and by the desires of young consumers.