For Alain Mikli, eyewear is not an object that hides the face; it is a manifesto that reveals character.
Alain Miklitarian was born in France in 1955 into a family of Armenian origin. His early exposure to the optical profession shaped a deeper and more meaningful relationship with eyewear from a young age. Growing up within a family rooted in optics allowed Alain to view glasses not merely as technical objects, but as elements defined by their harmony with the face and their intimate connection to personal expression. During his years of optical training in Paris, the prevailing approach of discreet, understated frames designed to fade into the background felt limiting to him. In Mikli’s view, eyewear should not conceal the individual, but instead bring them into focus. This perspective transformed his professional interest from conventional craftsmanship into a creative pursuit. By his early twenties, he had developed a clear conviction that eyewear needed to be redefined both technically and aesthetically. This forward-thinking vision was strong enough to lead him to chart his own path at the age of twenty-three.
A Manifesto Born in a Workshop
The small workshop Alain Mikli founded in Paris in 1978 was not simply the beginning of a business, but a design manifesto. The frames he produced in those early years deliberately distanced themselves from traditional optical conventions. Bold use of color, unconventional explorations of form, and a strong dialogue with the face quickly made Mikli’s designs stand out. His first personal collections from this period offered compelling proof that eyewear could be perceived as a fashion statement. Mikli’s most distinctive contribution was his decision to move eyewear from a supporting role into the very center of personal identity. It was no coincidence that his name began circulating within Paris fashion circles in the early 1980s. What started as workshop-based production soon evolved into limited collections carried by select optical boutiques. Mikli’s rise was not driven by a sudden breakthrough, but by the natural progression of a consistent and confident aesthetic stance.
Recognition and Visibility
The 1980s marked a defining era in Alain Mikli’s career. In particular, Elton John’s choice to wear Mikli designs both on stage and in everyday life significantly increased the brand’s international visibility. These years established Alain Mikli eyewear not only within optical retail, but also as a powerful means of expression in music, performance, and popular culture. The alignment between Elton John’s bold stage persona and Mikli’s expressive designs demonstrated to a wide audience that eyewear could be an essential component of personal image. During the same period, the brand began gaining recognition beyond Europe. Alain Mikli became synonymous with courage, character, and distinction within the optical world.
The Path to Institutional Growth
As the 1990s approached, Alain Mikli entered a phase of expansion while remaining faithful to his design vision. In 1987, he opened the first boutique bearing his name in Paris and broadened the product range, a move that led to rapid growth in overall sales. In 1995, the brand was structured under the name Alain Mikli International. This period marked significant progress not only in design, but also in distribution, retail development, and international organization. Alain Mikli boutiques were conceived not merely as points of sale, but as experiential spaces reflecting the brand’s aesthetic philosophy. Collections were renewed regularly, offering a strong identity each season through distinctive color palettes and material choices. Throughout this growth phase, Mikli succeeded in building a sustainable brand structure without relinquishing creative control. In the early 2000s, the company accelerated its globalization efforts by entering the Italian market and simultaneously began developing new brands such as Starck and Miyake. Mikli Studio was established in 2005 as a platform dedicated to innovative collections, providing technical infrastructure and creative guidance to emerging designers. The acquisition of a 75 percent stake in the iconic Vuarnet brand in 2009 further underscored the company’s global ambitions. A major turning point in the brand’s strategic growth and global distribution came with its acquisition by Luxottica, completed on January 23, 2013. This move significantly strengthened production and distribution capabilities. Following the 2018 merger of Luxottica and Essilor, Alain Mikli has continued to operate under the EssilorLuxottica umbrella, presenting collections that unite its established aesthetic heritage with contemporary production technologies.
Redefining Eyewear
Alain Mikli’s design philosophy transforms eyewear from a passive object into an active means of expression. Color plays a central role throughout his collections. Alongside classic tones, bold contrasts, layered acetate structures, and graphic surfaces form the defining elements of the Mikli aesthetic. His exploration of form is shaped primarily by the relationship between the frame and the face. Rather than concealing the wearer, his designs emphasize character and individuality. The collections developed throughout the 1990s reflect the maturation of this approach, where ergonomics and aesthetics are brought together with precision. For Mikli, eyewear is not an accessory that follows fashion, but a design object that reveals personality. This perspective is one of the key reasons the brand has cultivated a loyal following over the years.
Creative Minds Converge
The collaborations Alain Mikli has undertaken offer a clear reflection of his visionary identity. His choice of partners consistently points to a shared emphasis on creativity, originality, and a strong point of view. The Starck Eyes project, launched in the mid-1990s with Philippe Starck, stood out as a pioneering exploration that redefined ergonomics and design through human anatomy. Projects developed with Issey Miyake pushed the boundaries between fashion and optics, resulting in experimental designs that challenged conventional limits. Collaborations with figures such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Claude Montana, and Donna Karan further reinforced Mikli’s determination to position eyewear at the center of the fashion conversation. These numerous joint collections delivered not only aesthetic statements, but also products shaped by intellectual and conceptual alignment.
Cult Collaboration | Alain Mikli x Ray-Ban
The Alain Mikli x Ray-Ban series represents a deliberate and considered intersection where two brands meet within a shared aesthetic memory. The creative connection between Alain Mikli and Ray-Ban dates back to the 1990s, and this iconic relationship was brought into contemporary focus with a capsule collection introduced in 2025. Timeless Ray-Ban shapes such as the Wayfarer and Clubmaster were reinterpreted through Mikli’s signature layered colors, high-contrast acetates, and graphic surface treatments. Transparent textures, bold color transitions, and unconventional combinations emerged as defining features of the collection. For the first time, the Ray-Ban logo appeared in red exclusively for this capsule. From the Ray-Ban perspective, the collaboration was positioned as an extension of the brand’s approach to reinterpreting its archival heritage through a modern lens. For Alain Mikli, the project offered a compelling narrative that brought the brand’s historic avant-garde spirit back onto the stage within a contemporary context. The limited-edition release and distribution through select retail locations further emphasized the curated and exclusive nature of this partnership.
A Shared Language with Icons
Alain Mikli’s first true encounter with the spotlight began with Elton John. The living legend carried Mikli’s bold colors and sculptural forms on tour stages and red carpets, placing the brand at the very heart of popular culture. During the same period, Grace Jones transformed Mikli designs into a stylistic manifesto through her masculine and futuristic image. As the 1990s unfolded, Björk emerged as one of the figures who embodied the brand’s boundary-free spirit with her experimental aesthetic, while Madonna embraced Mikli as a confident, powerful, and deliberate fashion statement. In the 2010s, the spotlight shifted to Kanye West. The influential musician brought renewed attention to the brand’s archival strength by wearing vintage Alain Mikli frames. Lady Gaga merged Mikli’s theatrical language with contemporary pop iconography, carrying the brand’s sense of timelessness to new generations. The fact that figures such as Catherine Deneuve, Andy Warhol, Samuel L. Jackson, and Meryl Streep have also chosen Alain Mikli confirms that the brand remains one of the rare eyewear houses capable of speaking the same visual language with icons from diverse artistic disciplines across decades.
Chronology
1955
French-Armenian designer Alain Mikli was born in Paris.
1973
He studied interior architecture and design at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. During this period, his interest in form, color, and material became more defined.
1978
At the age of 23, he founded his own workshop in Paris. Initially, the studio focused on producing bespoke eyewear frames for architects and designers.
1981
The brand’s first collections were presented to optical professionals in France. High-contrast acetates and unconventional color combinations immediately drew attention.
1983
Elton John began wearing Alain Mikli eyewear during his stage performances, significantly accelerating the brand’s international recognition.
1987
Alain Mikli opened the brand’s first monobrand boutique in Paris. The store became one of the pioneering retail spaces to present eyewear as a fashion object.
1988
Mikli realized his first major design collaboration with Claude Montana. This marked the beginning of long-term relationships with leading fashion designers.
1990
Custom-designed eyewear was created for with Jean Paul Gaultier’s runway shows. Eyewear was treated as an integral element of the show styling for the first time.
1992
A project developed with Issey Miyake introduced eyewear designs shaped by minimal forms and technical materials, further strengthening Mikli’s experimental approach.
1993
Collaborations with Jil Sander and Donna Karan took place. These projects reinforced Alain Mikli’s position within the international fashion scene.
1995
The company structure Alain Mikli International was established. The brand transitioned to a globally organized production and distribution network.
1997
Alain Mikli eyewear gained increased visibility in the United States market. Partnerships were formed with fashion and optical retailers based in New York.
1999
The first creative contacts with Ray-Ban began. This period is associated with design explorations in which Mikli interpreted Ray-Ban archival forms.
2007
Kanye West wore a custom Alain Mikli shutter shades design in the music video for Stronger. The look reshaped the brand’s perception within youth and pop culture.
2013
The Alain Mikli brand joined the Luxottica Group. This move strengthened the brand’s global operations.
2018
Following the EssilorLuxottica merger, Alain Mikli was repositioned among the group’s premium and design-driven brands.
2021
Alain Mikli eyewear was worn by Meryl Streep, who attended the Academy Awards in connection with the film Don’t Look Up.
2025
The Ray-Ban x Alain Mikli capsule collection reinterpreted Ray-Ban’s iconic models through Mikli’s distinctive use of color and material.
January 2026
