French Leader's Fashion Statement Creates Financial Frenzy
French President Emmanuel Macron has inadvertently become a powerful influencer for the luxury eyewear market after his choice of sunglasses triggered a remarkable 28 per cent surge in the share price of the Italian company that manufactures them. The President was photographed outside the Elysee Palace wearing his distinctive Maison Henry Jullien aviator glasses, valued at £575, while welcoming Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi to Paris.
From Davos to Digital Virality
The spectacle began earlier in the week during President Macron's address at the World Economic Forum in Davos. His decision to don the Pacific S 01 Double Gold shades during the high-profile speech immediately captured global attention. Social media platforms were swiftly inundated with memes, commentary, and countless references to the 1986 blockbuster film Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise as Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell.
President Macron later clarified his sartorial choice, revealing he was using the eyewear to conceal a subconjunctival haemorrhage—a burst blood vessel in his right eye, which he described as 'totally benign'. He humorously referred to the look as 'l'oeil du tigre' or the 'eye of the tiger', a playful nod to the iconic Survivor song from the film Rocky III. 'For those who get the reference, it's a sign of determination,' he remarked.
A Substantial Market Impact
The presidential endorsement had an immediate and dramatic effect on the financial markets. iVision Tech, the Milan-listed Italian firm that acquired the historic French brand Henry Jullien in 2023, saw its market capitalisation increase by approximately £3.1 million. The company's shares rose nearly six per cent on Wednesday, having earlier spiked by almost 28 per cent, which triggered an automatic trading halt.
Stefano Fulchir, CEO of iVision Tech, confirmed the 'wow effect on the stock' and provided intriguing background details. He disclosed that President Macron first acquired the sunglasses in 2024 as a diplomatic gift during the G20 summit and later purchased a second pair for personal use. 'I said I would be happy to send him a pair, but they said no. He did not accept them as a gift, but wanted to purchase them personally,' Fulchir explained, adding that the French leader paid close attention to ensuring the glasses were entirely manufactured in France.
Craftsmanship and Global Availability
The premium sunglasses are hand-assembled using what iVision describes as an 'ancient technique', where gold is bonded—rather than merely plated—to the base metal, enhancing their durability. The blue-tinted UV lenses are produced by Dalloz, another company based in France's Jura region.
Fulchir noted that the glasses are available at opticians worldwide, including in war-affected Ukraine, though the company has yet to secure a distributor in the United Kingdom. The surge in online interest following Macron's appearance briefly overwhelmed the firm's website, as enthusiasts rushed to explore the product.
High-Profile Reactions and Diplomatic Context
The spectacle even drew commentary from former US President Donald Trump, who quipped during his own Davos speech, 'I watched him yesterday with those beautiful sunglasses. What the hell happened?'
Beyond the fashion and finance headlines, President Macron's meetings in Paris carried significant diplomatic weight. His discussions with President Tshisekedi focused on bilateral relations and the volatile situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa. The leaders were also expected to review progress from the Paris Conference of October 2025, which centred on peace and prosperity in the region. French officials reported that all emergency humanitarian funding pledged at that conference—amounting to £738 million of a total £1.3 billion commitment from 70 states and international organisations—has already been disbursed.
During his substantive Davos address, President Macron warned of a global shift towards 'a world without rules', where international law is being 'trampled underfoot'. He criticised what he termed 'imperial ambitions' and urged Europe to utilise all available tools to protect its interests against rising trade threats, describing proposed US tariffs as 'fundamentally unacceptable'.
