Chanel expands e-commerce with sunglasses

Chanel, who earlier this year announced that they would be launching e-commerce, has taken the next step in expanding their e-commerce presence. The iconic French luxury label has begun selling sunglasses online. Chanel proved that they had the power to do e-commerce when they launched a jewelry capsule collection earlier this year online with Net-a-Porter.

Yesterday Chanel made their entire sunglasses collection available to U.S. customers via chanel.com. Chanel's sunglasses are produced by Luxottica Group SpA, which also produces sunglasses for Giorgio Armani, Prada, and Versace.

Chanel sunglasses now available to U.S. customers via chanel.com

It seems like the plan to carry their sunglasses online has been up Chanel's sleeve for quite some time. In an article by WWD, Chanel president and chief operating officer John Galantic said that between 2013 and 2014 they reduced the number of third party U.S. eyewear distributors by 20 percent. While Chanel is highly guarded about revealing their sales figures, that reduction didn't seem to be due to any decline in sales or poor economic factors.

Chanel's next logical step would be to expand e-commerce to Europe and Asia and begin selling other accessories. A representative for Chanel wasn't immediately available to confirm what Chanel's next product offerings would be for e-commerce, or what country they will expand e-commerce to next.

According to an article on fashionista.com, Lagerfeld has already shot Chanel's next eyewear campaign, and it will star none other than Cara Delevingne. Delevingne has walked the runway for Chanel several seasons, and it's no secret she's one of Lagerfeld's favorite models. Delevingne is sure to help bring in the bucks for the brand, as she has for Topshop, YSL Beauty, and Mango.

photo:maguzz.com