Jacques Durand
Jacques Durand is an eyewear brand that handcrafts sculptural optical and sun frames at its own workshop in Montecchio Maggiore, Italy. It is known for frames carved from a single thick plate of Japanese acetate.
| Production | Montecchio Maggiore, Italy |
|---|---|
| Material | Japanese acetate |
| Signature collection | Curva |
| Trade fair | Silmo Paris |
| Website | jacquesdurand.it |
What is Jacques Durand?
Jacques Durand is a handmade eyewear label producing optical frames and sunglasses. Despite its French sounding name, production takes place in the brand's own workshop and premises in Montecchio Maggiore, in the Veneto region of Italy, where skilled artisans shape each frame by hand.
Products and positioning
The brand's signature is volume. Frames in its Curva collection are carved from a single 10mm plate of Japanese acetate and given an ergonomic, sculptural form. Earlier lines such as Plus Est are likewise built around unusually thick fronts of around 8mm, while models such as Praslin appear on the vintage and collectors' market.
- Frames carved from one solid acetate plate
- Sculptural, ergonomic shapes
- A manufacturing card with each frame naming the craftspeople and suppliers involved
Distribution
Jacques Durand presents its collections to opticians and buyers at international trade fairs, including Silmo in Paris, positioning itself in the independent, design-led segment of the optical trade.
Why it matters
The brand illustrates how small Italian eyewear makers compete with large licensing groups: through traceable craftsmanship, visible material thickness and transparency about who made each frame, a story that appeals to independent opticians looking for differentiation.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Jacques Durand eyewear made?
Jacques Durand frames are handmade in the brand's own workshop in Montecchio Maggiore, in the Veneto region of Italy.
What is special about Jacques Durand frames?
Its frames are carved from thick plates of Japanese acetate, up to 10mm in the Curva collection, and come with a card naming the artisans involved.