Easy Peasy: How Izipizi makes stylish eyewear for everyone and every moment?

At Merchery, we love creating merch for the best brands out there. So when we came across Izipizi, we knew it was a good fit. This French brand, born 15 years ago in Lyon by three visionary friends, set out to make eyewear stylish, accessible, and universal.

We had the pleasure of working with them to create some cool branded products that reflect their spirit. And to know more about their story, approach to sustainability and ambition, we met Émile, Artistic Director of the brand. He shared with us his vision and what fuels Izipizi every day.

1. Can you introduce yourself and the project Izipizi?

"My name is Émile. I’m the Artistic Director at Izipizi since 3 years now, guiding the brand’s visual identity and managing a small but passionate team. Before joining Izipizi, I worked in creative agencies, and alongside my role here, I’m also a photographer.

Izipizi was founded in 2010 by Charles, Quentin and Xavier - fondly known as CQX here. The idea for the brand came from a simple, everyday observation: their parents constantly misplacing their reading glasses. At the time, glasses, in general, were only available through opticians to correct vision problems. And reading glasses were dull and uninspiring, typically sold in pharmacies or libraries. Determined to change that, the trio set out to revolutionize reading glasses and first created ‘See concept’. They started with a modern reading range, before diversifying into sunglasses, children's glasses and sports glasses. In 2017, a rebranding gave birth to Izipizi (inspired by the English expression ‘Easy Peasy’), to reflect a cheerful and accessible identity.

When I joined Izipizi three years ago, the brand was already performing well, but it lacked a clearly defined direction that truly reflected its strong values. The challenge was to reshape its image and breathe fresh life into the brand’s identity.

To achieve this, we restructured and built an in-house agency model, recruiting new talents to support this vision. Today, our structure is built on synergy: the product team designs innovative new collections, the space team manages retail, boutiques, and distributors, and my identity team focuses on the brand’s image. As Artistic Director, I see my role as that of an orchestra conductor : uniting the unique talents of my team to create compelling campaigns and products. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. From product design to campaigns and merchandising, we work together to ensure consistency and cohesion across all touchpoints."

2. How would you define the brand today?

At its core, Izipizi is a brand designed for everyone. Universal, unisex, stylish, and functional, our eyewear is lightweight, flexible, and easy to wear. We often compare ourselves to brands like Uniqlo or Swatch: accessible and minimalistic while maintaining a distinctive and joyful identity.

Izipizi is for every generation, from 9-month-old babies to 77-year-old seniors, offering glasses for every member of the family as well as every moment of life—whether it’s working, enjoying the sun, or playing sports. More than just an eyewear brand, Izipizi is a lifestyle brand. We strive to maintain a 'cool' image that resonates with all generations, striking a balance between trendiness and timelessness.

Our philosophy, inspired by the phrase "Easy Peasy," is reflected in everything we do. While our permanent collections remain classic and universal, we love to experiment with bold, fashion-forward designs through limited-edition capsules and unexpected collaborations. Whether it’s partnering with surprising brands or incorporating analog photography into our campaigns, we aim to keep things fresh and exciting. And that’s why I’m here haha.

We believe in delivering great products with thoughtful packaging, all while remaining accessible in terms of pricing. The way we approach our shoots and branding is focused on creating high perceived value, regardless of the price that is really affordable - typically around €30–40.

Ultimately, Izipizi is about crafting modern, universal, and stylish eyewear that protects your eyes and brings a smile to your face. Simple, stylish, and functional."

3. Can you tell us more about Izipizi’s culture?

Over the years, Izipizi has grown to include a diverse range of models, from sunglasses to children’s eyewear and sports eyewear, catering to a wide array of needs and lifestyles. The company has expanded significantly, now employing over 200 people worldwide. With our headquarters in Paris housing 130 team members, an office in New York, and a growing network of boutiques, Izipizi continues to thrive.

Despite our growth, we remain deeply committed to our values, which shape not just our products but also our company culture. For the third consecutive year, Izipizi is certified as a Great Place to Work, demonstrating our commitment to a work environment and the professional development of our employees. Even as a larger organization, we work hard to maintain a sense of connection and openness. From Monday breakfast meetings, to team-building, to monthly company-wide updates, we foster a warm, collaborative environment where communication flows easily and everyone feels part of the journey. We also want to offer a flexible telework framework, sports offers, and childcare solutions, thus facilitating the work-life balance of our employees as a whole.

Our philosophy is captured perfectly in our tagline, "Everyday glasses." It reflects our mission to create eyewear that’s accessible, functional, and stylish, all while embodying an easy-going, joyful spirit that resonates across everything we do. We are eternal optimists, always looking for solutions and progress, ready to face challenges to continue advancing together."

4. How does Izipizi integrate sustainability into its brand, sporting events, and merchandise?

"Sustainability has always been at the core of our business. We’ve been B Corp certified for a year and a half (2023), a milestone that underscores our commitment to quality, social impact, and environmental responsibility. But this certification is just one part of our vision. We have an ambitious goal: to achieve carbon neutrality within the next two to three years and become a fully zero-carbon brand.

To turn this vision into reality, we are implementing several key initiatives across our operations:

• Transitioning to bio-sourced materials: Currently, 46% of our eyewear production is bio-sourced, and we’re aiming to reach 100% in the near future.
• Reducing production waste: By prioritizing injection molding over acetate, we minimize material waste without compromising quality or design.
• Shifting to sustainable logistics: We have stop using air transport in favor of sea freight to lower our carbon footprint.

Beyond our products and logistics, we’re also focused on sustainable practices in our everyday operations. From waste sorting and recycling to improving energy efficiency in our offices.

Our materials are another critical focus area. We use innovative solutions such as G850 plastic made from castor oil and recycled plastics. These materials are not only recyclable but also significantly more eco-friendly, aligning with our commitment to sustainable innovation.

And of course, all of this isn’t just a marketing gimmick; it’s a genuine commitment to sustainable innovation. See more about our commitments on our website.”

5. What role does sport play in shaping Izipizi’s identity, and how does it resonate with your audience?

"Our global philosophy emphasizes versatile, lifestyle-driven products that fit seamlessly into modern life. Sports play a big part in this, as they’re now a significant aspect of people’s daily routines. Our goal is to create accessible, high-quality products that align with those active lifestyles while staying true to our brand ethos.

Since then, we’ve expanded to offer specialized models for various activities like running, sailing, cycling, skiing,... But true to Izipizi’s DNA, these products are not limited to one activity—they’re designed to adapt to different uses, making them as flexible as the people who wear them.

For example, our latest release, the Horizon, was initially designed for sailing, but it’s just as functional for running or stylish enough for everyday wear. This versatility highlights how sportswear has evolved into a lifestyle and fashion statement, a trend we’re excited to embrace. Think of the Gorpcore aesthetic—people wearing Salomon shoes or Arc’teryx jackets in their everyday lives. Our sports line taps into this cultural shift, blending performance and style to emphasize a more lifestyle-oriented approach.

At Izipizi, we don’t just create products for one specific moment; we design eyewear that fits into every aspect of modern life."

6. How do you choose merchandise for your events, and how important is it for brand visibility?

"This year, aside from mugs we created for the office, our merchandise has primarily focused on sports. These days — much like with fashion brands — merchandise plays a key role in fostering a sense of belonging. Creating a community around sport and bringing people together. It's through Izipizi products, through events, and it's also through goodies and merchandise.

For our Run with Us campaign, for example, we organized running sessions from our stores in various cities from France. Participants wore Izipizi-branded caps and T-shirts, helping us create a sense of community and simultaneously increase visibility. These moments weren’t just about running; they were about connecting with our audience in an authentic and memorable way.

For us, it just felt natural to work with a partner like Merchery, who shares the same values we do. Their focus on quality, thoughtful design, and sustainability really clicked with what we’re all about. And like I said earlier, for a brand to truly be coherent, it needs to stay consistent everywhere—and that includes merchandising. It’s all part of the bigger picture, connecting seamlessly to our campaigns, our identity, and how we present ourselves to the world.

Merchandise is more than just an accessorize; it’s an extension of our identity: whether it’s through a cool, stylish design that people are proud to keep and wear or a collaboration with brands like Merchery, the goal is always to create something stylish, functional, and true to Izipizi’s values."

7. Do you have a favorite product at Izipizi?

"My favorite has to be our latest release: the Horizon sunglasses. They’re incredibly versatile, which I love. I took them on holiday and was just as happy wearing them on the terrace to shield myself from the sun as I was out on the water. They’ve got that little extra something—a distinct look that feels fresh while still being timeless and universal.

The design is simple yet impactful, perfectly capturing what Izipizi is all about: universal appeal, functionality, and style. For me, they represent an exciting milestone in our sports range, seamlessly blending performance with a lifestyle aesthetic. Whether you’re wearing them for a 20km run or pairing them with a leather jacket for a night out in Paris, they just work."

At Izipizi, it’s all about joy, simplicity, and creating glasses for everyone and every moment. From the product itself, through campaign & company culture, the focus is staying happy - EASY PEASY. A big thanks to Émile for sharing his insights into Izipizi’s identity, their focus on sports, and their commitment to sustainability.

To learn more about the brand, its commitments and products, have a look at their website here.