Whether it’s her struggles with vitiligo or her suffering from a non-life-threatening heart condition, Dubai-based fashion blogger-turned-influencer Karen Wazen has always been candid about her challenges and personal insecurities. Her love of sunglasses came from an insecurity: “I have big eyes and used to feel insecure about them, so covering them with sunglasses made me feel confident. Even today, wearing sunglasses gives me this rush of confidence — almost like a superpower.”

Wazen felt there was a sweet spot in the Middle East for well-made sunglasses priced below $200 — premium yet attainable. This led to the launch of her eponymous sunglasses brand in 2018, and its rapid expansion (the company declined to disclose its turnover). Now, Karen Wazen is announcing a joint venture with E

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