- yesterday
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00Hi everyone, this is Manjusha Radhakrishnan. I'm the entertainment editor. Today is a new episode
00:20from Dubai's success series. Today it gives me great pleasure, it's my absolute privilege to
00:25speak to Andre Montana. I love his name A, but Beyonce loves him more because I suppose she
00:32wears his sunglasses and he has got such an incredible success story. I have to tell you
00:37he moved to Dubai three years ago, before that he was in Paris and he's got this amazing startup
00:44story, didn't you? Like just tell us all about where it all began. So originally I was collecting
00:50vintage glasses. I started very young. I think I was 14, 15 years old. I started collecting
00:58sunglasses and it became my passion and slowly, slowly my collection grew. But it was only one
01:07pieces of each collection of different brands. It really become like a big thing for me when I
01:14started buying the stock from the old factory who closed down in Europe. Europe, there was America,
01:22Asia, like Japan, South Korea also because, you know, the mass production started closing to go to
01:29China to manufacture the eyewear. So there was all the stock left behind. So I was just, yeah,
01:38lucky enough to buy this stock.
01:40You saw an opportunity there, didn't you? Because, you know, everybody is racing after
01:44mass produce cheaper stuff. You saw value in something that's vintage. Is that because of
01:50your degree perhaps in design mechanical or tell me all about where it all began?
01:57Yeah. So I basically did mechanical design for study in Paris. I used to design specially for
02:05automotive, aerospace and medical with a French German company. And slowly, slowly, there was this
02:13feeling of designing for accessories grew on me. So I started learning eyewear, but I had already
02:21this experience with the vintage glasses. So I just put my knowledge to this accessories after that.
02:31Oh, I love that. What I love about how you began as well, and your glasses are, there are other brands
02:38such as, let's not name, let's say Ray-Ban, for instance, there are aviators, but you have taken
02:42them to a different level. What's your creative process like? Because you don't want it to look
02:47mass produced.
02:48No. I originally started working with the Japanese factory, which is like five master craftsmans who
02:56keep the same way that the grandfather and their fathers. Yeah, it took me five years to start
03:06working with them because they refused me in the beginning, because they take only five brands
03:10at the time. So I had an opportunity just before COVID to jump with them and start manufacturing my
03:19sunglasses.
03:19Did COVID spur you to try something new? Because I ask you this because during COVID, many people
03:26reinvented themselves. Like let's say even the original, the OG viral chocolate, a pregnancy craving
03:32apparently led to her finding the pistachio-filled Dubai chocolate. So was COVID a trigger for you?
03:38I think it was meant to be. It's like, you know, when the energy brings you somewhere, you don't know
03:45why, but you just do it. It, this is what happened to me. Um, because I was not meant to design
03:52eyewear, to be honest. Um, I usually, I'm specialized on the accompaniment for cars.
03:57For cars?
03:58And...
03:58So you were into automobiles?
04:00Automotive and aerospace.
04:02Oh.
04:03Uh, we were, we were, I was doing like project for different French and German, uh, brands.
04:08And, uh, one day my manager asked me to do a design for, uh, a famous fashion brand in
04:14Paris. And I loved it. I loved it. And I know this is what I want to do.
04:19Right. I love that. You know, because fashion, they say is a young person's game. I truly believe
04:25that if you start young, maybe you get time. It's like being an actor.
04:28Yes.
04:28The younger you are, the better you are. You can learn from your mistakes earlier. Do you think
04:33that? Because your story says, says a different story altogether. Yes. You can start at whatever
04:38age and it'll still...
04:39I really believe you, if you do what you like, you will be successful. 100%. It's not
04:46about, uh, when you start it or not. It's, to be honest, I started doing this actually late
04:51because, um, yes, I was collecting a long time ago, but I started my first design very late.
04:58I was, uh, basically, if I calculate, I would say seven, eight years ago, uh, I started doing
05:05my first design on eyewear. Um, but I did before that some parts of the eyewear, uh, component.
05:12And this is where the things happen. Like I know this is what I want to do, especially after
05:18I collect, uh, all these brands, uh, from the fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties of
05:26different brands. Um, yeah. And, uh, this is where I am now with this. I love that.
05:31I love that.
05:32Beyonce choosing your glasses. And I can tell you, I've seen Beyonce in action at a hotel
05:38opening. Uh, and I could see Jay, Jay, her husband is equally invested in her journey.
05:44Yes. Right. What makes you think that why does she love your designs? And she keeps
05:49wearing it. In fact, he just showed me a video where she's on stage and she's on fire
05:54wearing your glasses. Yeah. To be honest, I just found out today actually she was wearing
05:57the Miami, the last Miami collection I made, the rimless. Um, I knew she had the yellow because
06:03she demented. Which one is that? It's actually this one here, this collection. Oh, it's a
06:08Cuban chain. Yes. This is why I called it at Miami. And this is for the summer. Um, this
06:13is photochromic lens, meaning you can wear during the night. Oh, beautiful. And if you
06:18go outside, it becomes darker lens. Oh, it changes colors as well. Do you think the bigger
06:24is out now, the sleeker is in? No, I don't believe because I always, when I design, I design
06:31small glasses. Yes. Uh, like you can see here. Yes. Or large glasses. It's all about the feeling.
06:37How you feel with the glasses. Um, for me, there's no trend about large or small. And
06:43there's no trend about winter or summer. Like everyone does. Um, I just, when I see
06:50something interesting, like a flower or a butterfly or, or recently I just designed
06:56three new glasses. Um, uh, I called the jaguar, uh, the snake and the crocodile. So I did the
07:04dreamless with this, uh, with this, uh, animal, uh, details, which is stunning. And I add an
07:11extravagance with the crystal, Swarovski crystal on it just to add some bling. Yes. Yes. The
07:18Y is known for its bling. And I think you have made some bling tastic as well. Yes. But
07:23you have to also, when it comes to crystals or bling, you have to less is more sometimes,
07:27right? Yes. Oh, does it, uh, does it mean less is more for you or do you like more is
07:33more? It's not about more or less. It's just, I follow my feeling. I follow my, uh, instincts.
07:39When I see something, I'll give you another example. I went to Australia to the Barrow
07:43Reef and I went to the reef and I was amazed by the color of the coral. And I know in this
07:50last thing, inside the water, I'm going to design the coral glasses, which is the Barrow
07:57Reef. And this is the one, the first glasses, uh, Beyonce loved it. Oh, I love it. You
08:02can see. And this is why. And it's so light. Very light. Titanium. Very light. It's all
08:06made in titanium with the 24 karat gold plated. Oh, it's beautiful. And I made different
08:10colors. I made the blue. I made the yellow. Yes. The black, the red, the pink. I was
08:16planning to make another five colors, but I stopped because it was too much. Right. But
08:19yeah, Beyonce, when she saw these glasses, she asked me two of each color. Please.
08:26So if she lose one, at least she got them one in backup. Oh, that's the ultimate, I guess,
08:31validation that it is. For me, it was like, yeah, for me, uh, and everyone loves these
08:36glasses. I like that. People think it looks too bling, but it doesn't. When you wear it,
08:40it's classic. Yes. It looks very classic and it's a rimless, which is like very trending
08:46now, uh, especially now in Europe, in, for example, in Southern France, everyone is wearing, uh,
08:51wearing, uh, rimless glasses. And I really like these glasses. For me, this is one of
08:55my favorite of the Andre Montana collection. I have to ask you this. When you were a child,
09:00like say a 14 year old, collecting these vintage glasses, did you at any point think you would
09:05be in a position where pop stars, pop idols are choosing to wear your designs?
09:11No, because I was very selfish. I want it all for me. I didn't want to give anything. To
09:16be honest, again, today, uh, I have to tell you something Beyonce, she took actually two vintage
09:21glasses, which one I was a little bit, uh, I didn't know if I have to give her or not. It
09:27was a vintage Tiffany from the eighties, a beautiful glasses. I give it to her only as a gift only
09:35because I had the two more, the same design. So you're very possessive about your vintage. How
09:41many, what are we looking at? And what is it worth? I have no idea. How many glasses? Let's just
09:46put a number. I stopped counting since I would say three years ago. You just go around the world.
09:51I think I have over a hundred thousand glasses. Not, not my glasses. Yes. Vintage glasses. Yes. And
09:57he collects vintage glasses. And I know one thing about collectors. It's more precious than your own
10:02children. Yes. It's a fact. Actually, I'm exciting when I go to see a new, uh, boxes inside the old
10:08factory, uh, with dust. And when you open, you find some gemstone inside from the sixties, from the
10:15eighties, it's, it's, it's a big pleasure. This is my excitement moment with when I designed some
10:22sunglasses and I see it in life. So you have to tell me your Dubai story. I know you traveled around
10:28the globe, but what made you choose Dubai as a final place to stop? Uh, for many, actually for many
10:34reasons. Uh, the first one was because Dubai is well placed in the world for me to travel. I need to travel
10:42if I need, for example, in Los Angeles, Europe, Asia, Japan, Japan, I'm going a lot at the moment
10:49because my factory is there, Korea also. Uh, first of all, it's because of the placement. Secondly,
10:55because I love UAE. This is my fellow home here. It's a really nice place to, to, uh, to, to live. And
11:04also because all my customer, most, most of my customer with America are here. So if for example, a VIP need to
11:11see the collection, I will basically bring the collection to them here to see the glasses.
11:17Oh, I love that. Do you intend to perhaps do R and D here, set up a base here as well?
11:22Yes. Yes, definitely.
11:24What's your plan? Like start a factory perhaps?
11:27Um, actually my real, uh, dream is to open my own factory, uh, in Dubai, um, or Abu Dhabi. It depends
11:36on which placement we will see in the next few years. But, uh, my objective is to open a factory, uh,
11:42manufacturing lenses, uh, frame, acetate, uh, and also supply my own shop and, uh, collaboration.
11:52I love that. It's interesting. You were saying that you want to start your own store when
11:57everybody is moving towards, uh, online shopping. Yes.
12:01You don't want a physical store. So I'm, I'm quite curious to know why you think of physical
12:05store is important. Physical store is very important because, um, um, a few pop ups I did,
12:11uh, I noticed people love to hear the story about behind this brand. On the website, you can't really see.
12:17Also, if I do everything, this also people need to see and try and touch and feel it, uh, the, the, the, the, the, the energy when they're wearing the glasses.
12:28So, yes, it's very important to have a spot here or in Paris or in America, which is my plan is to have one of each continent.
12:37I would say for people to come and try and see the glasses.
12:41Right. Uh, what other celebrities have perhaps patronized it or given you feedback that stayed with you?
12:47We took it as a learning moment.
12:48So we had the, we had the chance with the Kate Beckinsale in London.
12:52She was wearing the Apollo glasses, the silver one.
12:54Which is the Apollo glasses?
12:55The Apollo glasses.
12:56Oh, nice. I can imagine Kate Beckinsale well.
12:58All the glasses are unisex, by the way.
13:00Only Venus, uh, for, for women.
13:04But I saw men buying the Venus also.
13:06Which is the Venus?
13:07Venus is this one.
13:08Oh, wow.
13:09This is the latest, uh, design actually.
13:11Yes.
13:12It's very Dubai, I must say.
13:13Gold.
13:14You like a bit of gold?
13:15I designed these glasses for, for women actually.
13:18This is why I call it Venus.
13:20Oh, that's right.
13:21But there, there's a bit of like, I like the cat eye.
13:23Yes.
13:24Oh, it's like in a masquerade ball.
13:26Yes, exactly.
13:27Like there's a hint of mystery to it.
13:29Yes.
13:30But men are wearing it too.
13:31Yeah.
13:32I saw men buying these glasses for themselves actually.
13:34Um, and, uh, uh, Jennifer Lopez took, uh, one of this, uh, Venus.
13:40And we had, uh, Madonna also.
13:43She was asking our latest, uh, Katsumi some glasses.
13:47Oh, show me what the, uh, Madonna.
13:49Oh, I can imagine Madonna.
13:51Where this?
13:52Oh, this, oh, this is nice.
13:55She must have loved this, right?
13:56Yeah.
13:57She would have carried it with such a class.
13:58Who do you want to, I mean, who's your ideal, let's say a celebrity client?
14:02Is it Beyonce?
14:03I'm not asking you to choose, but what is it about their personality that, that makes
14:07them gravitate towards your designs?
14:09Yeah.
14:10I think it's, uh, the attitude, the feeling, uh, the, the style.
14:15Uh, I think that this type of, uh, show business people, they understand the power of wearing eyewear.
14:23And I really think, uh, and this is what I want to show people.
14:28Basically, when you wear glasses, it's not about vanity.
14:31It's about the energy, about the, the, you know, it's like someone, when you go to, to, uh, a suit retail,
14:40to make some very nice suits, to feel confident, to feel good on themselves.
14:46The eyewear today, it's the same.
14:48Savile Row.
14:49It's like having a social massacre.
14:50Exactly.
14:51Yeah, Taylor?
14:52It's, uh, it's, uh, it's not anymore like, um, uh, a medical device.
14:58Uh, it's more like fashion.
15:00Uh, it's still protecting the eyes, of course.
15:03Yes.
15:04I'm not wearing this for, to protect my eyes anymore.
15:06I'm just wearing because I feel good with my glasses.
15:09And I want to, people to have the same feeling, the same confidence, the same, uh, energy.
15:15But tell me about what kind of fashion or moment are we having in terms of eyewear in, in the UAE?
15:23Like, because here the fashion is different, right?
15:25Yes.
15:26I often talk to so many designers, their Middle Eastern influences are different.
15:30Slightly over the top.
15:32It's slightly more glintastic.
15:33They go slightly more gold.
15:35With you, have you seen your design philosophy change a bit to adapt to the Middle Eastern taste?
15:41No, because I don't, I don't follow the, the, the fashion, uh, trend.
15:45Uh, I follow what I see.
15:47I think it's, it's at the moment what it's going to be good.
15:52You know, um, I think people here, and this is not only Dubai.
15:58I noticed everywhere around the world.
16:00They are looking for something more unique, uh, more, less accessible, less, less, uh, fast fashion.
16:07And this is why my collection are micro collection.
16:11I'm not, uh, mass producing, uh, all my, my collection.
16:15I'm making just a few of each because I can do it because I am a designer.
16:20So I have like a hundred design behind me waiting to be produced.
16:24And I'm not scared to, if I sell 200 pieces of one design and it was super successful and it was sold out in one day, that's it.
16:35This is the past.
16:36I want to pass to something else.
16:37I want to try something else.
16:38That's right.
16:39Yeah.
16:40So this is what I like on my job.
16:41I love the fact that you like to keep rolling.
16:43Yes.
16:44You know, once you're done, you don't want to make the same thing and just live on that.
16:48No.
16:49Like make one successful formula.
16:50Exactly.
16:51Is that what keeps you going?
16:52I want to keep reinventing.
16:53Yes.
16:54Because I have so many ideas and because to be honest, uh, collecting all these glasses, uh, from the fifties to 2000, uh, you see like thousands of design.
17:05Because before during the sixties, seventies, the designer were a little bit more, um, I would say crazy, but they designed when today is different.
17:15They just make one design to match everyone.
17:20Basically for profits.
17:21Mass production.
17:22When before they used to try different designs.
17:25They used to try different shape, different, uh, material.
17:28And sometimes it was crazy design, but it was cool.
17:32But today they all doing the same.
17:34Do you think eyeglasses are a great investment?
17:37Like, you know, certain bags, for instance, they double in value over years.
17:42Yes.
17:43Does it?
17:44Yeah.
17:45You, you collect vintage.
17:46So I have to ask you, you are the person to talk about, has, have you seen it grow exponentially?
17:51100%.
17:52Better than gold?
17:53Yes.
17:54For some brands like Cartier, vintage Cartier, Chanel, uh, Tiffany, which is the price went from, I don't know.
18:03I would say during this time was selling, uh, I would say the same price as today.
18:08But today, uh, for example, Chanel from, uh, from the nineties, from Carla Garfield, you can find them for 10,000 US dollars.
18:16The glasses, which is very expensive.
18:19Very expensive.
18:20Right.
18:21Yeah.
18:22So is it right to say that you are a multimillionaire maybe because of your glasses, because of your hobby that started?
18:29But not because of the value, because of the beauty of the glasses on merchandise.
18:33Yes.
18:34Oh, I think that is what matters to you, Andrea, isn't it?
18:37Yes.
18:38It's not about the, the, the value with money.
18:40It's yeah.
18:41It's the design.
18:42Some design are incredible.
18:43And I don't think I will sell them ever.
18:46Ever?
18:47No.
18:48Not even if Beyonce and Jay-Z are sale.
18:51But honestly, there's some sunglasses I, she took, I was a little bit, uh, yeah.
18:57You had, you had a few other similar ones, right?
19:00That's why you gave it to me.
19:01Yeah.
19:02This is why I give up.
19:03But if I had only one, I would never.
19:04So she comes to your home or how does that work?
19:06No, we have, I have a, a friend in Los Angeles.
19:09Hi.
19:10And she's my PR.
19:11And she actually, uh, placed my products to her stylist.
19:14And the, her stylist showed to Beyonce.
19:16How would you characterize if Dubai where it was a, I wear, which one would you choose
19:21and why?
19:22Is it?
19:23This is actually the one I'm wearing now.
19:24Uh, I have this, uh, rimless I made from, uh, Korea.
19:29And this is a real warrior.
19:31Oh, nice.
19:32It's so, it's like Dubai that kind of adapts.
19:34Yeah.
19:35It adapts to everything.
19:36Exactly.
19:37And we have also this Monte Carlo, which is very classic.
19:40So this.
19:41Glasses.
19:42Oh, I love it.
19:43It's beautiful.
19:44I love the shape as well.
19:45I designed these glasses, uh, three years ago, but I never released them.
19:49Why?
19:50Just recently, because I was maybe focusing with other designs, but this one, yeah, it's,
19:55um, it's a very successful.
19:57Actually, they are sold out this ones.
19:59Oh, these are?
20:00Okay.
20:02I think you've done so well.
20:03If Beyonce is wearing them, we all want a piece of it.
20:05Who's your dream client though?
20:06One is person who you hope.
20:08On that total vision.
20:09To wear my glasses?
20:10One person.
20:11Yeah.
20:12So for me, Beyonce, for me is the top celebrity I would say to work with because, uh, she really
20:19love eyewear and I love to work with people like this.
20:22Excellent.
20:23Thank you so much Andre for sharing your story in Dubai success series.
20:26As always, I really hope you find more success with stars and, um, all your fans alike.
20:31Thank you very much.
20:32Thank you very much.
20:36Thank you very much.
Recommended
1:46
|
Up next
2:39
1:34
0:44
0:29
1:24
1:03
13:09
1:33
3:35
3:33
0:38
6:22