Here Comes The Sun: Q&A with Jérémy Tarian

It’s a blustery afternoon in December and I am bundled up in a scarf, hat, mittens and a heavy wool coat. The wind is howling and there’s a hint of snow in the air. In short, I’m freezing and thing winter even though it’s still technically autumn. Luckily I’m about meet with a talented sunglasses designer where I can pretend that summer is right around the corner.

Jérémy Tarian, an award-winning eyewear designer from France, is in town to launch his first sunglasses collection, available in Canada exclusively at Josephson Opticians. This collection, consisting of six styles that retail for $375 each, is the first he has done on his own (in 2008, he did a collaboration with ic! Berlin, a German eyewear company).

We had the chance to talk to Jérémy about Missed Connections, trends and what surprised him most about his customers.

Adorned Magazine: What do you think will be some of the top eyewear trends for Spring/Summer 2011?

Jérémy Tarian: I think we will be leaving behind the vintage look that we have seen for the past few years. The thing about the collection is I don’t think I’m following trends. I really try to make something new even if it’s very hard in glasses because it’s still two lenses and two tempers. Also I think it’s very colourful.

AM: What would you say is the one pair of glasses that every woman should own? Is there one pair that really represents your brand as a whole?

JT: Sky Bar. They’re easy, everyday. This pair is very popular in Asia and in Canada where the customer is a bit more bold.

AM: How would you describe your customer?

JT: Before we launched the collection, we were planning on people from 20 to 40 [years old], quite young. And a few days ago we got the average age of the first customers who bought the collection and it was 51. So it was not what we expected, which was great because we wanted to make something young but for everyone of all ages. There are small models, to maybe more crazy and more classic. Everybody can find a frame. They’re easy to wear.

AM: This season you’ve written the product descriptions to look like Craigslist Missed Connections. Can you tell me how that idea came about?

JT: They came from true stories that happened to my friends, three stories actually. I love it a lot and I think the glasses were the perfect accessory between eyes every time you look at each other. Of course if you have glasses that’s the first thing you see. And with sunglasses you’re really covering your eyes. They’re also unisex and in the text [of the descriptions] we don’t know if it’s a boy meeting a girl, or what.

AM: Can you tell me about how the glasses are named?

JT: We didn’t want it to have a number for each model. We didn’t want to have names of people; only names of places.

AM: Was it important to you to have the product manufactured in France?

JT: Yeah. We do everything in France, in a very old factory. And it’s an acetate product, so it’s not plastic, it’s a better quality. That’s why we can do all these smaller details.

AM: Is there anyone, another designer or a retail chain, that you would like to collaborate with?

JT: Yeah, I think it would be very nice. So I am working on it for next year. I get in touch with two people and then we will see if it’s done or not. But, yeah, I think [collaborations are] good, especially for sunglasses designers to work with fashion designers.

Tags: Jérémy Tarian, sunglasses, trends