CLÉMENCE&MARGAUX: a sisterly vision of eyewear
- By Valeria Martinez
Clémence&Margaux began with two sisters, a shared love of fashion and a family connection to the world of optics. That bond eventually inspired a brand built around colour, individuality and the belief that eyewear should make people feel as good as they look. As the French brand prepares to unveil its latest collection at SILMO 2026, the sisters discuss their creative process, changing tastes in women’s eyewear and ambitions for international growth.
Q: How did Clémence&Margaux come to life?
A: Clémence&Margaux is, first and foremost, the story of two sisters. Clémence is Margaux’s little sister, and she was born visually impaired. From the very beginning, we developed a very strong connection and a unique complicity. When we were children, Margaux already had a strong passion for fashion. She loved choosing outfits, playing with styles, and expressing herself through clothing. She naturally wanted to share this passion with her little sister and, above all, she wanted Clémence to feel beautiful, confident, stylish, and elegant. Margaux would carefully choose Clémence’s clothes, describing the colours, fabrics, materials, and details, explaining what worked well together and what did not. During her childhood and teenage years, Clémence was still able to see colours, and fashion became a beautiful way for us to connect, share emotions, and express ourselves. Over time, what started as a gesture of love became a shared passion. Our father, who had been working in the optical industry for many years, always noticed the incredible connection between us and the way our personalities complemented each other. He saw how naturally our two worlds could come together: fashion, eyewear, and a story of inclusion. This is how Clémence&Margaux was born in 2012: from the bond between two sisters, a shared passion for fashion, and a desire to create an optical brand that combines style, emotion, and inclusivity — showing that eyewear is not only about seeing better, but also about expressing who you are and feeling confident.
Q: At what point did you realise it could become a business rather than just a personal project?
A: We realized that Clémence&Margaux could become a real business when we understood that our personal story could inspire something much bigger than ourselves. When we launched the brand in 2012, our father had already been working in the optical industry for more than 20 years. Thanks to his experience and his multiple connections within the industry, he immediately saw the potential of creating a professional eyewear brand — a brand with a strong identity, beautiful designs, and a meaningful story behind each creation. At the same time, Margaux started designing the first models, drawing inspiration from her own style, her passion for fashion, and her vision of elegance. She also created designs inspired by Clémence’s favourite colours, her favourite shapes, and the styles she naturally loved. Each creation was a reflection of our shared tastes, our emotions, and our story. Our father then introduced us to the optical world by bringing us to international trade shows, where we met industry professionals, discovered the latest trends, and understood what it took to build a real eyewear brand. That is when we realized that Clémence&Margaux was not only a personal project between two sisters, but a brand with a purpose: to inspire people, including people with disabilities, and to show that difference is not a limitation — it is a strength, a source of creativity, and something to celebrate.
Q: Has working together as sisters ever led you to create something neither of you would have designed on your own? How do you challenge each other creatively?
A: Working together as sisters constantly pushes us beyond what we would create individually. Our collaboration is a true balance. Margaux leads the design, drawing from trends, materials, and her visual expertise, while always keeping my preferences in mind as well as our customers desires and expectations. I am naturally drawn to bright colours, so she integrates them into the collections, shaping designs that reflect both of us. If my tastes were different, the collections would be too, which shows how much our identities influence each piece. This constant teamwork challenges us creatively and allows us to create frames that are more personal, more expressive, and richer than anything we could have designed alone.
Q: How do you make sure your collections feel current without chasing every trend and staying true to your identity?
A: We stay close to the market through constant feedback from our sales team, who regularly gather insights from opticians about their clients’ preferences in shapes, designs and colours. We adapt where it feels relevant, always balancing our own vision with the desires and expectations of final consumers. At the same time, we remain true to our identity by focusing on what defines us, strong use of colour, unique laminations, and bold combinations of acetate and metal.
Additionally, one of our strengths is our ability to regularly renew our collections, with four new launches per year. This allows us to stay closely connected to market trends, continuously bring brand new ideas, and introduce new designs while receiving valuable feedback from our customers and opticians. This constant evolution helps us understand what truly resonates with them and adapt our creations accordingly.
Q: Your collections always strike a balance between vintage and contemporary styling. What inspired the look and feel of your new Autumn/Winter line?
A: Our collections are inspired by a constant observation of the market, fashion trends, and the expectations of opticians and final consumers. For each season, we look closely at the upcoming hues, patterns, and influences that will shape the Autumn/Winter trends, including inspiration from the ready to wear industry. At the same time, we always stay true to our identity by creating original designs with distinctive shapes, such as butterfly frames, double bridges, and oval silhouettes. Our goal is to combine contemporary influences with our own signature style, creating eyewear that feels both timeless and modern.
Q: Which frame from the collection do you think will surprise people the most and why?
A: The frame that we believe will surprise people the most is La Rarissime. For this creation, we designed a very original piece featuring a chain detail on the temple, sculpted with the CM logo engraved directly on the temple. It truly lives up to its name with its unique and exceptional design. When designing our collections, we always aim at surprising our customers and creating designs they have never seen before from us. La Rarissime perfectly reflects this vision with its strong personality, creativity, and unexpected details.
Q: Are you finding women are becoming more adventurous with eyewear, or are they still looking for frames they’ll wear every day?
A: We see all types of women among our customers. Some are looking for an everyday frame, while others want a frame they can wear daily but that truly reflects their personality. They are looking for designs that allow them to express themselves, whether through bold colours, unique details, or a more distinctive style. Of course, some women still prefer timeless shapes and colours, but we notice that many are now seeking more original designs while keeping comfort and wearability. They want eyewear that feels easy to wear every day while helping them stand out.
Q: What are you most looking forward to at SILMO this year, and what can visitors expect to see from Clémence & Margaux?
A: At Silmo, we are looking forward to reconnecting with our customers, presenting our new collection, and sharing the inspiration behind each design. Our goal has always been, and will always be, to understand and satisfy their needs, desires, and expectations. We are also excited to meet new people, share the vision, identity, and story of Clémence&Margaux, and introduce them to our universe. Visitors can expect to discover bold colours, sculpted frames, original shapes, and double bridge designs. Above all, we want to continue surprising them and offering a unique experience, both through our creations and the warm welcome we provide at our booth.
Q: What are your ambitions for the brand as you look ahead to 2027 and beyond?
A: Looking ahead to 2027 and beyond, our ambition is to continue strengthening our relationship with our existing customers by offering outstanding quality, original designs, and collections that truly reflect their tastes in terms of colours, shapes, designs, and styling. Meanwhile, we are aiming at expanding Clémence&Margaux internationally, introducing our brand to new markets, and connecting with new customers who share our vision. Our goal is to continue growing while staying true to who we are, our values, and the story that makes our brand unique.
