For Jérémy Miklitarian, eyewear has never been just about vision. It’s about identity; how something feels, how it frames the face, and how it quietly shapes the way we see the world and ourselves within it.
Growing up with severe near-sightedness, Jérémy received his first pair of glasses at 11, designed by his father, Alain Mikli, the influential French-Armenian designer known for bold, sculptural frames. That early intersection of necessity and artistry would go on to define his career.
Before founding his Paris-based eyewear brand Tarian in 2011, Jérémy carved out a creative path of his own, first as a ceramicist, then through studies in graphic and product design. Ceramics, he notes, still inform his approach today, shaping his sensitivity to texture, form and material. The name “Tarian” itself is a quiet nod to legacy: the suffix “ian” meaning “son of,” signalling both heritage and evolution.
His designs, often described as distinctly Parisian with an unexpected, playful edge, reflect a deep understanding of eyewear as both object and experience. They are pieces that prioritise comfort as much as character, inviting wearers to express something personal rather than purely functional.
It was at an international optometry expo in Paris that Jérémy’s work first caught the attention of Michelle Pencharz and Shana Cohen, founders of Peers and Fisher Optometrists. Established in 1992 and based in Dunkeld West, the practice has built a reputation for combining clinical excellence with a carefully curated aesthetic sensibility.
“Jérémy’s designs have a Parisian edge while encompassing quirky elements,” says Michelle. “They reflect a deep understanding of the need for eyewear that is both comfortable and expressive of individuality.”
For Jérémy, the connection was immediate and mutual. Encountering the practice, and its founders’ emphasis on detail, warmth and personalisation, he recognised something rare. A sense of “soul”, as he describes it, not often found in optical spaces internationally.
That shared philosophy has since evolved into an exclusive South African partnership, with Tarian frames available only through Peers and Fisher. The collaboration also marked Jérémy’s introduction to South Africa, a market he quickly connected with, drawn to its energy, diversity and confident sense of style.
His visit to Johannesburg in April this year, his first, was less about expansion and more about immersion: meeting clients, understanding local preferences, and refining the selection alongside the optometrists who would ultimately bring his designs to life on their patients.
For Michelle and Shana, independent brands like Tarian are a natural extension of their ethos. “Everything we offer has a story,” Michelle explains. “Our clients respond to that, to the idea that what they’re wearing isn’t just functional, but meaningful and unique.”
Ultimately, Jérémy’s journey, from a child navigating the world through thick lenses to a designer redefining how others experience theirs, speaks to something simple but powerful: eyewear is never just about what you look at but what you choose to see.
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