Collection: Zorro

The Zorro brand, little known to the general public, is part of a tradition of short-run or semi-artisanal eyewear, with a taste for assertive shapes, robust materials and European-inspired manufacturing. The frames observed are characterized by large volumes, attention paid to visual presence, and a style often rooted in the visual trends of the 80s: thick temples, gold finishes, smoked lenses. The brand's graphic identity is often visible on the inside of the temples, with the words "Zorro - Made in France" or "Made in Italy".

Very present in the 70s, 80s and 90s, Zorro glasses were often sold in mainstream fashion channels, but always with a strong identity. Produced in acetate or molded plastic, sometimes in Optyl, they captured the spirit of the times with oversized, geometric, or ultra-tinted frames, ideal for those looking for a confident and vintage look.

Commonly seen models include oversized rectangular sunglasses in black or tortoiseshell acetate, thick square shapes with high bridges, and gold metal frames with gradient lenses. Some temples have gold inlays, raised patterns, or small metal plaques engraved with the name Zorro. The lenses are usually brown or gray tinted, sometimes mirrored, and the construction appears solid, with riveted hinges and correct adjustments. No standardized model reference is known, but the visual consistency between the frames allows us to identify production from the same stylistic specifications.

The presence of the name “Zorro” on some vintage eyeglass arms has sometimes been wrongly associated with the fictional character created in 1919 by Johnston McCulley. However, there is no official link or license between the eyewear brand and the world of Zorro in the cultural sense. The choice of name, probably marketing, is part of a trend in the 80s and 90s to use terms evocative of mystery or visual force, without necessarily referring to a registered trademark.

Vintage Zorro sunglasses represent a typical example of independent European optical production from the late 20th century. Their limited distribution, distinctive style, and French or Italian manufacturing make them uncommon items on the second-hand market. Although not linked to a fashion house, these frames are of interest to vintage eyewear enthusiasts for their graphic character, historical accessibility, and their anchoring in a dated but identifiable aesthetic. They also bear witness to the dense activity of intermediary optical brands in the decades preceding the dominance of luxury licenses.