Vuarnet is the sunglasses brand named after Olympic skier Jean Vuarnet in 1961.
Jean Vuarnet won the men’s downhill gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. After his victory, French optical manufacturer Société Optique de Précision worked with him to develop and market sunglasses bearing his name.
The brand became known for mineral-glass lenses and for its association with skiing and alpine light. Its identity therefore connects an Olympic athlete, French optical manufacturing, and outdoor eyewear.
The year 1961 refers to the creation of the Vuarnet brand after the skier’s Olympic success, not to the 1960 Games themselves. Jean Vuarnet was the athlete whose name gave the brand its distinctive identity.