Carolina Lemke

Carolina Lemke is an Israeli eyewear brand that designs and sells fashionable sunglasses and optical frames under the label "Carolina Lemke Berlin." Founded in 2010 by Yossi Gabizon and named after his partner, designer Carolina Lemke, the company is a subsidiary of Castro Model Ltd., which is itself part of the Hoodies Group. The brand positions itself at the intersection of high fashion and accessibility, offering trend-driven eyewear at a uniform price point of around €150 per pair. Its design language is inspired by cosmopolitan Berlin, and the company controls all aspects of design and production to maintain quality standards. Carolina Lemke releases over 400 designs annually, split between roughly 250 sunglasses and 150 optical frames, and operates an open-store retail concept alongside its e-commerce platform. The brand gained significant publicity through celebrity partnerships, most notably with Israeli model Bar Refaeli, who became a spokesperson and acquired a 5% stake in the company, and later with Kim Kardashian for the U.S. market. As of the mid-2010s, the chain operated dozens of stores and kiosks in Israeli shopping malls and several abroad, generating tens of millions of shekels in revenue. Today, Carolina Lemke continues to expand its international presence, selling online and through retail partners, while remaining a key brand within the Hoodies Group portfolio alongside Hoodies, Urbanica, Top Ten, and Accessorize.

Carolina Lemke was founded in 2010 by Israeli entrepreneur Yossi Gabizon, who also managed the company. The brand is named after his partner, Carolina Lemke, a German designer with over 15 years of experience working for leading fashion retailers, who designs the eyewear produced for the company. Products are manufactured in China. The company established a chain of retail stores for sunglasses as part of the Hoodies Group, which includes the Hoodies, Carolina Lemke, Urbanica, Top Ten, and Accessorize chains. The Carolina Lemke chain gained widespread publicity after Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli became its spokesperson; as part of her contract, she became a partner in the company and acquired 5% of its shares. In August 2016, Castro Model Ltd. acquired 26.4% of the Hoodies Group for 100 million shekels, with an option to increase its holding to 50%. In the first half of 2016, the Carolina Lemke chain operated 73 stores and kiosks in Israeli shopping malls and 4 abroad. During that half-year, the chain generated revenues of 68.8 million shekels and a net profit of 9.3 million shekels. In June 2018, Castro completed the acquisition of 100% of the Hoodies Group in a share-swap deal. To promote Carolina Lemke sales in the United States, an agreement was signed in 2018 between Castro Model and Kim Kardashian, under which Kardashian would serve as a spokesperson for Carolina Lemke alongside Bar Refaeli. The relationship with Kim Kardashian ended in November 2019. The brand continues to operate as a subsidiary of Castro Model Ltd., selling eyewear through its online store and retail network, with a design philosophy rooted in Berlin cosmopolitan style and a mission to make fashionable eyewear accessible to everyone.

• 2019

  Kim Kardashian partnership ends in November.

• 2018

  Castro completes acquisition of 100% of Hoodies Group via share swap.

• 2018

  Partnership with Kim Kardashian signed for U.S. promotion, alongside Bar Refaeli.

• 2016

  Castro Model acquires 26.4% of Hoodies Group for 100 million shekels, with option to increase to 50%.

• 2016

  First half of 2016: 73 stores and kiosks in Israel, 4 abroad; revenues 68.8 million shekels, net profit 9.3 million shekels.

• 2010

  Carolina Lemke founded by Yossi Gabizon.

High fashion, easy eyewear — fashionable, high-quality eyewear at accessible prices, inspired by Berlin.

• Kaio sunglasses

• Lune sunglasses

• Spark sunglasses

• Aurion sunglasses

• Taro sunglasses

• Kaelis eyeglasses

• Laurel eyeglasses

• Lunya eyeglasses

• Opalia eyeglasses

• Paige eyeglasses

1. 1CAROLINA LEMKE BERLINcarolinalemke.com
2. 2About Carolina Lemke – CAROLINA LEMKEcarolinalemke.com
3. 3Kaio – CAROLINA LEMKEcarolinalemke.com
4. 4Lune – CAROLINA LEMKEcarolinalemke.com
5. 5Carolina Lemke – Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6קרולינה למקה – Wikipedia (Hebrew)he.wikipedia.org