Christian Roth & Eric Domége

Christian, born in Germany, and Eric from France, met in New York city in 1983, where they were working in optical, fashion photography and marketing, respectively. In 1984 they founded optical affairs and were quickly hailed by the fashion community as fresh talents that would go on to change the course of luxury eyewear.

As one of the world’s leading optical designers, Christian Roth went on to set trends in the market, not follow them. The pair’s view was that eyewear should make its own statement as a piece of fashion, stemming from a myriad of historical and cultural influences. In 1990, Roth was celebrated for his vision and was inducted into the Council of fashion designers of America (cfda). His work in propelling the eyewear market forward, specifically in this innovative use of titanium, set the brand apart. The induction was especially important to the eyewear industry overall, as this was the first time an eyewear designer had ever been awarded into this esteemed circle of designers.

In 1998, Christian and Eric formed a partnership with the Charmant Group to produce and distribute Christian Roth eyewear worldwide. The Japanese manufacturer has a worldwide reputation for technical expertise and knowledge, especially in the use of titanium.

The new millennium saw Christian Roth paving the path to fame within design circles. In 2002 the pair was honored by the art world with the inclusion of their design form the 1980’s and 1990’s in the “taking eyeglasses seriously” exhibition at the Triennale di Milano. From 2000 to 2004, Christian and Eric collaborated with leading designer Michael Kors on his eyewear collection. Since 2007 the pair has also worked with Karl Lagerfeld on his line of fashion eyewear.