Loro Piana Dip Their Toe Back in the Water of Sunglasses With Ski Goggles, Still no N.P.E.L.P

 

We have long written about Loro Piana's flirtation with having a Sunglasses collection.  From their stunning launch of a world first ultra-thin lens with  N.P.E.L.P lenses made from rare-earth minerals way back in 2011, to them gradually phasing out the N.P.E.L.P lenses, and discontinuing all types in 2022.  It's therefore surprising to see them attempt some sort of eye-protection once again, with a new pair of ski goggles.

Coming in at £855, with changeable lenses, Loro Piana appear to be making progress, as these are only 6 times more expensive than for example, a pair of Oakley ski goggles.  A huge improvement from their Loro Piana plastic frisbee which proudly declared it being manufactured from plastic, costing 175 times that of a comparable non-branded version.

However it's not all sunshine and rainbows.  The new Loro Piana Ski goggle appear to have no UV coating.  There is no mention of it on their website page for the product, and doesn't appear to be mentioned anywhere else either, by way of press release or sycophantically enthusiastic articles.

This is rather problematic.  According to the American Cente for Disease and Control, an absence of UV protection while on snow can lead to serous health concerns, as a result of the altitude, and sheer expanse of blinding whiteness.

It seems then that Loro Piana have outdone themselves here then, creating a product which is not onl;y overpriced, but also dangerous.  Unless we're incorrect and it does have UV protection, in which case they're merely overpriced, and ugly.