In a new video testing out a Meta AI update, Zuckerberg coincidentally imagines himself as a streetwear designer from LA
Instagram. Facebook. WhatsApp. Supreme. Though that might seem like a strange portfolio to some, it very much could be on the cards, as Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta eyes up a five per cent stake in Supreme parent company EssilorLuxottica (EL).
The story began last Wednesday (July 17), when EL announced it was acquiring Supreme from VF Corporation, owner of brands like The North Face, Vans and Timberland. Rumours had been swirling since May that VF wanted to offload Supreme, so the sale came as no huge shock, but what is surprising is that eyewear giant EL was the one to pick it up.
The French-Italian conglomerate already owns Ray-Ban, Oakley and Persol, and also makes glasses for houses like Prada, Burberry and Chanel via licensing deals – but Supreme is the first time an apparel brand has been on its books. EL’s $1.5 billion purchase of Supreme also marks a dip in the skate brand’s value, since VF bought it for $2.1 billion back in 2020.
So, where does Mark Zuckerberg fit into all of this? Well, just one day after Supreme’s acquisition was announced, The Wall Street Journal reported that Meta was in talks to buy a 5 per cent share in EL. Though the talks “are continuing and may not result in a deal,” Meta already has an existing partnership with the company to produce its ‘Ray-Ban Meta’, a pair of smart glasses that were first launched in 2021. Back then, sales of the glasses didn’t exactly set the world on fire, but a newer version released in October 2023 did a lot better than expected, outselling the first model in just a few months, according to EL.
If the deal with EL goes through, Meta will reportedly leverage that to make smart glasses with its other brands. And according to the Financial Times, sources close to the deal have said that EL wants “to launch a new version of Supreme smart sunglasses in partnership with Meta, to better target young consumers”.
So, if rumours are to be believed, Mark Zuckerberg wants to tap into the NY skate market with his very cool smart glasses. We know that the Supreme customer base will buy stuff like bricks and crowbars, so you can already picture hypebeasts scrolling Hinge on their Supreme-Meta shades. If all goes well, maybe they’ll let Zuck have a go at some ready-to-wear, and we’ll get to see the first ever Meta-designed fashion line. It might sound far-fetched, but stranger collabs have happened at Supreme.
Update, July 25, 2024: Zuckerberg is well and truly in his hypebeast era. The co-founder of Facebook is playing into rumours about becoming part-owner of Supreme. In a new video, he tests a new Meta AI update where one can generate an image of themselves, write a prompt, and transform their image. While taking a photo of himself, the 40-year-old businessman asked the app to imagine him as a streetwear designer in LA. When the image developed, Zuckerberg laughed and claimed that this “is his future self.” A funny remark or an honest confession about his future endeavours? Only time will tell.