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Stories


Jean Philippe Joly

Words Alessandra Albarello

17/12/2025

Jean Philippe Joly has chosen to live with spontaneity, openness, emotion and instinct, and he channels the same spirit into the exclusive eyewear he personally creates

How did your independent adventure begin in 2015 and how did it evolve?
I am in the optical field since 1999 but only around 2015 I started my own brand Jean Philippe Joly with a desire to break away from trends and create something more personal - more emotional. At the time, I was already immersed in the world of eyewear, but I felt the need to express my own vision, one rooted in craftsmanship and character. Over the years, this passion evolved into a brand that stands for individuality, artistic detail, and bold design.

Each collection is a new chapter of this ongoing adventure. How does the mood and atmosphere of Paris influence your creations?
Paris is my playground, full of contrast, elegance, and unexpected energy. The city breathes creativity. Its architecture, cafés, the way people move through the streets... it all finds a way into my work. There's a certain tension in Paris between classic and avant-garde; that's exactly what I love to capture in my frames. “When details become an obsession” is one of the slogans forged for your glasses. Could you explain the deep meaning of this concept and how you apply it to your creations? For me, detail is everything. It's not just about making something look beautiful; it's about making something feel alive. An angle, a curve, the way light hits a surface, every line has a purpose. That obsession is my way of showing respect for the people who wear my glasses. I want them to feel the difference in every millimeter.

Your hands and your heart work together in your unique glasses because you design and develop every piece by yourself. What other tangible and intangible elements and values are important to you?
Emotion is key. A piece must carry a soul. Craftsmanship, quality, and authenticity are essential. But equally important are freedom and intuition. I don't follow trends; I follow what feels right. I want my work to spark something personal in others, whether it's confidence, curiosity, or even a bit of rebellion.

 

"We will dance again" sunglasses

"We will dance again" sunglasses

What do you yourself feel when you create a new model, and what is the very first starting point of this process?
When I design, I feel excitement mixed with tension, like stepping into unknown territory. The starting point is often an emotion or a silhouette I've imagined in my head. Sometimes it's sparked by a person I've seen or a feeling I want to translate into form. From there, the lines come naturally, almost like drawing a character.

Even the names of your glasses are unique and tell a story. How do you choose them?
The names are part of my personality; they reflect my vision, my energy, my attitude, they come from my life. They're inspired by people I meet, places I've been, emotions I've felt. It's all connected to my way of living with freedom, curiosity, and joy. Each name is like a message: Express Yourself, Keep Smiling, Open Your Mind, Keep Dreaming... I want people to feel something when they wear my glasses, to connect with the spirit behind them. It's not just eyewear, it's a state of mind. Away of life.

What are the inspirations, innovations and highlights of your new collections?
The new collections explore contrast between raw and soft, avant-gardiste and artistic, bold and refined. I'm working with strong volumes, including oversized shapes 

and thick acetate (up to 9mm) always with a sense of balance and wearability. We're also introducing flat-front designs with large temples for a clean, architectural look. A key highlight is the latest evolution of our Titanium Monoblock series, with new, small pilot and round models, minimal, lightweight, and full of character. I'm most inspired by traveling, meeting people, art, architecture and my own vision of life; they all feed my creativity. But more than anything, it's about how I choose to live: with spontaneity, openness, emotion, and instinct. Each design is an expression of that; a piece of my vision, turned into an object with presence and soul.

 

Originally published in Eyebook #35

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