Maluma is one of the biggest-selling Latin artists of all time, creating music that fuses reggaeton, pop, and Latin trap. His breakthrough album, 2015’s Pretty Boy, Dirty Boy, propelled him to international stardom, and his style soon became as influential as his music. In 2019 Maluma was declared ‘Menswear Icon in the Making’ by Vogue magazine and has more than lived up to the hype.
As well as being well-known for his love of sunglasses, which has resulted in collaborations with the eyewear brand Quay, and a partnership with Versace, he loves clothing design in general. In March 2022, Maluma unveiled a clothing collaboration with Reunited Clothing and Macy’s, with a collection entitled Royalty by Maluma – which quickly sold out.
But back to Maluma’s obsession with bright, bold, statement sunglasses. Below we explore the star’s unique connection with eyewear styling and the successful design collaborations that have sprung from his love of this accessory. And those shades he wears in his videos? We reveal the exact models the star wears so you can seek them out yourself.
Collaboration with Quay
Maluma’s not just in the business of wearing killer sunglasses – he’s in the business of making them, too! In 2021 the star collaborated with designer eyewear brand Quay, unveiling a collection of extra-large, extra-stylish sunglasses which, in Mauluma’s own words, pay homage to the Miami Vice vibe of the 1980s.
The collection includes multi-colored, large rectangular shades with bold arms, oversized round glasses incorporating the thinnest of metal frames, and bold, blue-lensed sunglasses featuring a bold, brow-following upper frame.
Discussing the collection, Maluma has spoken about how he was keen to design sunglasses that reflected a strong eighties and nineties aesthetic with ultra-modern touches. When creating each design, the star didn’t feel pressured to go about the process in a specific way but was guided by his natural stylistic flair.
The collection has proved a huge hit with Maluma’s fans and general buyers alike, who appreciate their relative affordability: expect to pay around $55 for a regular pair of shades or $95 for prescription sunglasses.
Collaboration with Quay the Sequel
Due to the popularity of the Quay collaboration in the summer of 2021, the singer was invited to design a second collection released in November of the same year. The resulting On the Fly range quickly sold out, with buyers loving the bold shades and shapes and vivid stylistic details. The high-quality frames, and scratch-free, anti-reflective lenses add to their appeal.
Maluma’s Quay Fandom
The collaboration with Quay didn’t come out of anywhere: Maluma has long been a fan of the brand’s shades and particularly loved the 2019 collection co-designed with Jennifer Lopez – and owns several sunglasses from this range himself.
Having spotted Maluma sporting its sunglasses for years, Quay knew that he was a great collaborative choice when designing their next collection. For Maluma, sunglasses are more of a style statement than shoes or accessories. He wanted to create a collection that expressed his personality and unique aesthetic through his eyewear vision.
Becoming the Face of Versace’s New Shades
When it was time for Versace to select someone to be the face of their summer 2022 eyewear campaign, there was only one choice: Maluma. With his well-known love of sunglasses, inimitable sense of style, and hot on the heels of his collaboration with Quay, the house invited the star to be the face of the brand.
Heading up the campaign, Versace was pictured wearing the Medusa Biggie VE 2249 model, a reimagined version of the house’s classic Medusa Biggie style, which peaked in popularity in the 1990s courtesy of the star of the same name (real name, Christopher Wallace).
The shades’ big, bold pilot shape is designed to make a statement, and the sparkly medallion on the arms takes things to the next level. The gray lenses add a subtle edge, and the model is available incorporating matte black or matte gold frames.
The Sunglasses that Star in Maluma’s Music Videos
And, of course, it’s no surprise that sunglasses feature prominently in Maluma’s music videos! The singer in the Hola Senorita sported the Carrera 1021/S shades – the gold frames and mirrored lenses made for a vibrant look that perfectly matched the tone of the vid.
Then there were the Verso Hydro sunglasses that almost stole the show in the 11 pm music video with their vibrant color and joyously outré design. And Carrera shades were in the frame again for the HP video – this time the 5046/S model, which features round lenses and goggle-like arms.
Final Thoughts: Getting Maluma’s Style
With his successful collaborations with Quay and status as the face of Versace’s eyewear collection, Maluma is a bona fide sunglasses style icon. Check out the sunglasses in the range the star designed for Quay – they’re affordable and high-quality, and all the models are available with prescription lenses – and offer an easy way to get some Maluma magic into your life!