4807 glacier glasses - mountain eyewear by sebastien cluzel

4807 glacier glasses – mountain eyewear by sebastien cluzel
all images courtesy of nicolas genta + sébastien cluzel

protection in all forms is important and when it affects humans, it’s often a question of survival. ‘4807’ glacier glasses, designed in collaboration with american eyewear brand julbo and swiss industrial designer sébastien cluzel, explore the balance between necessary performance and overall aesthetics. created for a diploma project at ECAL, the aim for the eyewear piece is to provide protection from the sun whether in the mountains or the city. at heights of 4000m, protective eyewear is extremely important, but often people wear sunglasses with lenses that are less efficient, preferring to choose ones with more style. based on the classic frame-shape of the ‘glacier glasses’, from the great years of the haut-savoyard mountain climbing, (a famous region in the french alps) the revisited frames are intended for daily use as well as intense alpine climbing.

the ‘4807’ glacier glasses are composed of a spring steel frame, bronze branches and a shell of flexible polyurethane. the spring steel provides resistance to the frame in the event of a fall and the general shape is designed for optimal protection against sunlight. using polarizing photochromic lenses cat.4, especially designed by julbo for extreme conditions, the accessory offers maximum vision through their shape, as it follows the natural outline of the eye. the bronze structure allows the ends of the arms to move in all directions – under a helmet, beanie or bare-head the glasses are sturdily maintained. grooves placed on the sides of the frame, on the nose pads and temples are used for ventilation, anti-humidity and anti-slip, while the design also features holes at the ends of arms so that an adjustable cord can be added. the protective cover has been redesigned so it is as light and small as possible, made  from technical fabrics, it can be easily rolled or folded and put away in a pocket.

‘4807’ glacier glasses with lightweight protective cover

the frame is based on the classic shape of the ‘glacier glasses’, from the haut-savoyard mountain climbing region

using polarizing photochromic lenses especially designed by julbo for extreme mountain conditions

the eye-wear provides stylish protection from the sun, whether in the mountains or in the city

postcard by morgane pluchon

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