Christian Louboutin‘s place in culture is firmly cemented. His iconic red-soled shoes are spoken about in songs by Cardi B, seen on Taylor Swift’s feet during her sold-out Eras tour and easily found on every major red carpet globally. Now the French footwear designer is ready to take on the eyes, debuting his first eyewear collection in partnership with Italian manufacturer Marcolin.
The debut of Christian Louboutin eyewear “is a strategic milestone for us,” said Marcolin group marketing director Alessio Puleo, adding that the French footwear firm “enhances and strengthens our luxury segment at its highest tier, further elevating our complementary portfolio,” which includes brands Tom Ford, Zenga, Max Mara, and more.
The premiere collection launches a total of 25 styles— encompassing over 70 color stock keeping units— distributed across two releases for spring and summer 2025. Teased with a soft launch in February with an initial 14 sun and seven optical styles, supported by an ad campaign around New York City, April will see the Loubishark sun capsule, directly inspired by the well-known Loubishark sneakers debut with a full campaign rollout globally.
Christian Louboutin’s first eyewear collection, manufactured by Marcolin.
Courtesy Marcolin
“Bringing Christian Louboutin’s playful and mysterious essence into eyewear was an exciting creative challenge,” explained Marcolin group style and product development director Laura Marogna. “Naturally, red is at the heart of the brand’s identity, so we incorporated the iconic red sole as a front embellishment — an elegant and instantly recognizable signature. While Louboutin is often associated with its iconic women’s shoes, the brand is much more than that. Today, it represents men’s footwear, sneakers, and a bold, creative, fun spirit. We wanted to capture that same energy and express it through eyewear.”
Marogna said that with such a strong brand identity in place, defining the shapes and their character “felt quite natural.” For women they embrace cat-eye shapes, “elegant and face-flattering, echoing the glossy allure of patent leather shoes,” she said. For men, an inspiration of pilot shapes, enhanced with signature details like studs, “the Cornetto [Italian for little horn] as Mr. Louboutin calls it — an element we believe will become an unmistakable hallmark,” she said.
Each pair is named for a corresponding footwear style, linking the collection to the brand DNA. Key elements of Louboutin’s well-known world — palm trees, red, and studs — are woven throughout.
“These details appear in different ways, whether through metallic patterns that embellish and shape the frames or as subtle touches, like a pearlescent hue inside the acetate lining. Studs, in particular, add a bold, rock-inspired edge, giving the collection a dynamic and unmistakable character,” she said.
Each style uses Zeiss lenses, ensuring the highest optical quality, with an “exclusive” lens shade developed that transitions from black to red. All the collection comes with an internal anti-reflective treatment, “with a signature red hue, that protects the eye from internal refraction rays,” she explained.
Christian Louboutin’s first optical frames, manufactured by Marcolin.
Courtesy Marcolin
Marcolin revealed the exclusive global licensing agreement with the French brand (lasting until 2029) in February 2024. Marogna reported it took “over a year” from the initial concept to market launch. “We spent a lot of time perfecting every detail and experimenting with innovative acetate constructions to create something truly unique,” she said of the process.
Positioned at the luxury tier, price points range from $565 to $875 for both optical and sun styles, reflecting the partnership’s commitment to innovative design and premium materials. According to Puleo, the distribution strategy for Louboutin eyewear “was meticulously planned to reflect the brand’s exclusivity and prestige.”
While the pre-launch phase took place within Louboutin’s own boutiques and “a carefully curated selection of top-tier global retail partners,” at full scale, the distribution will remain “highly selective, aligning with the brand’s elevated standards and ensuring that the eyewear collection is available only in the most prestigious locations worldwide,” he reported.
In fact, the luxury segment is a space where “we see significant business opportunities,” Puleo said, adding that they are engaging with “not only existing Christian Louboutin enthusiasts — who will find a seamless continuation of the brand’s iconic codes in eyewear — but also new customers seeking distinctive, unconventional and statement-making designs.”
The shoemaker and eyewear manufacturer will celebrate the launch in New York at The Nines on April 10 with an immersive experience for press, key influencers, and of course, celebrities.
