Lafont

Lafont's story spans four generations of family optical expertise. Louis Lafont opened an optical boutique in Paris's Madeleine neighbourhood in 1923, steps from the Grands Boulevards. His son Jean Lafont transformed the Rue Vignon shop into a fashionable destination, enhancing optical expertise with bespoke frames. The third generation marked the turning point. Philippe Lafont and his wife Laurence offered colourful products with contemporary lines and proportions that echoed their era's aspirations. Success followed, and the Lafont brand was born. They created frames that celebrated colour, embraced unconventional shapes, and made wearing glasses a pleasure rather than a necessity. Their genius lay in understanding that technical excellence could support creative freedom. Lafont developed innovative manufacturing techniques in the Jura region that allowed vibrant colour combinations and sculptural forms whilst maintaining French craftsmanship standards. The brand's influence legitimised colourful, expressive eyewear and inspired designers to challenge industry conventions. Today, vintage Lafont frames are recognised as pivotal works in eyewear history, demonstrating how family expertise and creative vision redefined what frames could express. These pieces represent eyewear design at its most joyfully creative and technically accomplished.

Lafont frames from the 1970s through 1990s represent French eyewear design at its most inventive and joyful. The Lafont brand emerged from four generations of family optical expertise. Louis Lafont opened an optical boutique in Paris's Madeleine neighbourhood in 1923. His son Jean enhanced the Rue Vignon shop's reputation with bespoke frames. The third generation, Philippe Lafont and his wife Laurence, marked the turning point. They transformed the family boutique by offering colourful products with contemporary lines and proportions. Success followed, and the Lafont brand was born. They revolutionised optical fashion by treating frames as expressions of personality rather than medical devices, pioneering vibrant colours, unconventional shapes, and playful design elements. Collectors prize Lafont pieces for their fearless use of colour, the particular joie de vivre that characterised French design innovation, and the technical expertise required to achieve such expressive forms. As vintage designer eyewear gains recognition, Lafont frames document the moment when French designers proved that eyewear could embrace joy and creativity whilst maintaining manufacturing excellence.

At Glass & Frame, we verify Lafont frames by examining the distinctive design and construction details that made this French brand revolutionary. We look for the characteristic colour work, the innovative shapes that defined different collections, and the quality finishing that separated Lafont from imitators. Genuine Lafont pieces have an unmistakable presence. That combination of playful design and solid French manufacturing that defined the brand. The construction signatures tell the story: specific acetate layering techniques that created vibrant colour effects, the engineering solutions for unconventional shapes, and the finishing quality that French workshops demanded. We can often date pieces through the evolution of Lafont's colour palettes and the design language that shifted across creative periods. These frames are sourced from trusted European sellers and collectors, and we examine each piece carefully to ensure authenticity.