Elisa Johnson on building an eyewear brand, independence and earning her father Magic Johnson's investment

Elisa Johnson launched her eyewear label in May 2021, after selling some of her own handbags to pay for the first samples and pitching her father, American businessman and former basketball player Earvin "Magic" Johnson, for the investment that got it off the ground. Five years on, the brand sells through Saks, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Kith alongside its own site, and has just released a fall 2026 collection fronted by model Jasmine Tookes.