Anne et Valentin: Where It All Began
The story of Anne et Valentin starts in Toulouse, France, in the late 1980s, with a shared frustration and a bold idea.
Valentin, a trained optician, had grown tired of the uninspired frames available to his clients. Functional, yes. Beautiful, rarely. His partner Anne, an artist with a deep passion for form and colour, felt it too. So together, they decided to do something about it.
What they created was a brand built on a simple belief: that frames should enhance a person's character, not mask it. Anne brought the artistic instinct. Valentin brought the optician's precision. The result was something that hadn't quite existed before, eyewear that was expressive, bold and comfortable.
That philosophy hasn't changed. Every Anne et Valentin collection begins not with a trend, but with a person. Who are they? How do they move through the world? What do they want their frames to say? The designs that follow reflect that thinking: unexpected geometry, layered textures, and interesting colour combinations.
It's no coincidence that the brand has found a devoted following among artists, architects, creatives, and independent thinkers. These are frames with a point of view. Worn by people who have one too.
You're Invited
Join us for our annual Anne et Valentin trunk show at Index. For one evening, you can see the complete collection, the same 400-odd frames Lynne selects from when curating for the store. The full picture, not just the edit.
Your Backstage Pass
In short, a trunk show is access you don't normally get. When you visit us on any other day, you're seeing Lynne's carefully curated selection of Anne et Valentin, a considered edit chosen with our customers in mind. A trunk show pulls back the curtain entirely.
Almost every frame the brand produces, from beautifully refined metal styles to bold, artistic statements, is here for you to touch, try, and explore in person. Most Anne et Valentin frames are produced in six to eight colourways. On a regular visit, you might see one or two. Here, you see all of them.
We love hosting these events precisely because they let our customers see what we see, and that's a rare thing.
What Awaits You
Come in, we'll pour you a glass of bubbles, and you can explore the collection. You might be there for 20 minutes. You might lose track of time entirely (we won't judge). Either way, you'll leave having seen shapes that surprised you and colour combinations you hadn't considered before.
This is a lovely chance to share the experience with others who genuinely appreciate design, craftsmanship, and the individuality a great pair of frames can bring.
You'll also get to discover limited pieces and newly released styles before they become widely available, which is one of our favourite parts of the trunk show too.
Enjoy 10% off any Anne et Valentin frames or sunglasses ordered on the day.
We’d Love to See You There
Where: Index Eyewear, 5 Havelock Road, Havelock North
When: Friday, 22nd May, 3PM - 7PM
Come as you are. Leave with a new perspective.
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5 Havelock Road,
Havelock North,
Hawke’s Bay
4130
06 211 7433