Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | RSS
For nearly five decades, Alain Mikli has challenged the eyewear industry to think beyond function. In a conversation with Tarrence Lackran on EyeConversations, the legendary designer reflected on building one of the most influential eyewear brands in history, proving that success comes from originality, persistence, and an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship not simply following trends.
Success Doesn’t Happen Overnight
When Alain Mikli launched his brand at just 23 years old, success was anything but immediate. After studying to become an optician, he quickly realized there was little room for another traditional eyewear company. Rather than compete with established manufacturers, he chose a completely different path.
For three years, he attended Vision Expo and international optical fairs without selling a single frame. Buyers admired the designs, tried them on, and complimented them—but consistently believed they were impossible to sell.
Everything changed after an editorial feature in American Vogue showcased his eyewear through legendary photographer Helmut Newton. Almost overnight, the U.S. market embraced his vision, leading to the launch of his American business and the beginning of a global brand.
Being Different Became His Greatest Competitive Advantage
Instead of trying to convince the optical industry to accept his ideas, Mikli focused on expressing his own vision.
He introduced asymmetrical frame designs at a time when most eyewear was conservative and purely functional. His philosophy was simple: ordinary products rarely attract attention.
As he explained:
“Nobody looks at normal people. You need to have an attitude, you need to have a look, you need to think differently.”
Alain Mikli
That willingness to be provocative transformed eyewear from a medical necessity into a fashion statement, influencing countless independent designers who followed.
Fashion Elevated Eyewear Into Art
Mikli’s collaborations helped redefine what eyewear could represent.
Working alongside iconic fashion houses and designers including Chanel, Donna Karan, Issey Miyake, Claude Montana, and Chantal Thomass, his frames became runway accessories rather than afterthoughts. Celebrities such as Grace Jones, Elton John, Andy Warhol, and Kanye West embraced his work, yet Mikli never relied on celebrity endorsements as a marketing strategy.
Instead, he viewed those relationships as creative partnerships built on mutual respect rather than commercial promotion.
Craftsmanship Still Matters
Although Mikli is celebrated for bold aesthetics, he believes exceptional eyewear begins with comfort and engineering.
Drawing on his background as an optician, he explained that nearly 80% of his design process focuses on improving fit and wearability. His goal is for patients to forget they are even wearing their frames.
He also expressed concern that modern eyewear manufacturing often prioritizes appearance over quality, arguing that beautiful design loses its value if the product is uncomfortable or poorly constructed.
For Mikli, true craftsmanship requires understanding every detail—from materials and hinges to production techniques and long-term durability.
A New Mission: Teaching the Next Generation
After selling his company to Luxottica, Mikli stepped away from the industry before eventually returning in a very different role.
Today, his greatest ambition is no longer building the biggest brand. Instead, he wants to preserve the knowledge behind exceptional eyewear design.
Working within Luxottica, he is helping develop an internal educational program dedicated to teaching future designers and engineers about craftsmanship, innovation, manufacturing, and the true purpose of an optical frame.
His mission extends beyond creating products—it focuses on protecting the future of the eyewear industry itself.
Final Thoughts
Alain Mikli’s story is far more than the history of an iconic eyewear brand. It is a reminder that innovation begins with the courage to be different, persistence through failure, and an unwavering commitment to quality.
Nearly 50 years after launching his company, Mikli continues to shape the future of eyewear—not by chasing trends, but by investing in people, sharing knowledge, and inspiring the next generation of creators.
As eye care professionals continue balancing fashion, function, and patient experience, his philosophy remains as relevant today as it was when he first challenged the industry to think differently.
