Once upon a time, in a plane at 30,000 ft
A story that begins in the sky and lands in Monaco…
It started somewhere above the clouds, mid-flight between two cities at 30,000 feet. Not long after takeoff, I glanced over and noticed a mother beside me comforting her young daughter seated just ahead—sandwiched between two men. Without hesitation, I offered to switch seats so they could sit together.
As we flew, I noticed the man by the window seemed uneasy. “Are you a nervous flier too?” I asked. Seeing my own unjustifiable flight anxiety mirrored in him. We both smiled and admitted that flying made us anxious, even though we did it often due to our jobs. To pass the time, we talked about work. I shared my struggles with finding sunglasses that felt right, how designer pairs often felt too heavy, or too dark. I wanted something elegant, lightweight, wearable all day everyday, and protective without dimming the world around me.
That’s when he said his family made eyewear. We quickly found common ground, not just in our shared anxiety, but in our dedication to quality, authenticity, and craftsmanship in the businesses we were building.
“… two nervous passengers passing time through conversation. I mentioned how hard it was to find sunglasses I actually liked wearing: most were too dark for my sensitive eyes, making the world feel dull. He told me his family made eyewear. By the time we landed, we were sketching ideas for my dream pair."
– Founder, Kenzie Kay
That flight was the beginning of something unexpected and beautiful—a partnership rooted in craftsmanship and shared vision. Two years later, after countless sketches, prototypes, and refinements, the Riviera sunglasses were born. Designed in Monaco (and at 30,000 ft) then made in Italy, they are everything I wished existed: polarized to protect my blue/grey light-sensitive eyes, flattering enough to elevate any outfit, and comfortable enough to wear all day—I even specifically designed them to be able to smoothly pull back your hair as us girls love to do.
After moving to sunny Monaco, we made subtle yet essential adjustments. The Riviera sunglasses were refined to reflect the timeless elegance of the Côte d’Azur—the style beloved by artists, movie stars, and fashion designers for decades here. In a place where the sun shines nearly every day, sunglasses are more than an accessory—they’re a necessity. And now, they’ve become part of my daily uniform.
The Riviera story isn’t just about sunglasses. It’s about chance encounters, kindness, and classic beauty.