From the desire of LVMH, World leader in luxury, to raise eyewear as an essential element of its Maison’s collections and a pristine expression of their creativity, Thélios was founded in 2017. Pioneering a new luxury experience in eyewear, Thélios masters each step of its value chain, from conception to distribution of luxury sunglasses and optical frames for LVMH Maisons. Through its state-of-the-art Manifattura, located in Longarone, Italy, Thélios stands for Alta Occhialeria: an advanced savoir-faire, combining outstanding creativity and manufacturing excellence. Moreover, Thélios operates a highly selective distribution network with a direct commercial presence in all major markets.
Where do we stand?
Having cancelled this year’s appointment with DaTE in Florence - which, however, has a new President and will return with a new format and location in 2025 - the first industry event in Europe where we will meet is therefore Silmo in Paris, which promises to be very lively and, we hope, a harbinger of new momentum.
As for the general panorama around us, I tremble every time I watch the news.
It is more heartening to just look at our industry, which globally in 2022 was valued at around $140 billion and is expected to reach around $180-200 billion by 2030. In 2023, the optical and eyewear market in Europe showed a moderate recovery after the challenges of recent years. The prescription eyewear segment dominated the market, accounting for 71.4 per cent of sales. This was mainly due to the increase in visual impairment related to the prolonged use of digital devices, which drove the demand for corrective spectacles. Let’s also not forget that, according to the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), Europe has the oldest population in the world, with people aged 65 and over accounting for around 19% of the total population, or almost one in five.
The sunglasses market has been growing, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3%. Online sales are also gaining ground, with a projected growth of 8.6%, thanks to advanced technologies such as ‘virtual try-ons’ and the increase in online shopping (source: Grand View Research ‘Europe Eyewear Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (Contact Lenses, Spectacles, Sunglasses), by Distribution Channel, by Country, and Segment Forecasts, 2024 - 2030’).
In general, large companies in the industry continue to innovate to maintain their competitive advantage through new technologies and strategic partnerships. The traditional distribution channel (physical shops) remains predominant, but the growth of e-commerce cannot be ignored.
The industry is experiencing a wave of innovation, from the use of lightweight and sustainable materials to the spread of new technologies.
The industry is also paying increasing attention to sustainability. Many companies are investing in eco-friendly materials and production processes with a low environmental impact, also in response to new EU directives against greenwashing. We will have more information about all this at Silmo. Good work, therefore, to everyone.
Isabella Morpurgo Publisher
Silmo Paris 2024 Highlights
The optical industry’s event combining innovation, reflection and exchange to anticipate future challenges
From 20 to 23 September, inspired by the Olympic values of performance, innovation and talent, SILMO Paris opens its doors to all industry professionals. With more than 900 exhibitors and 1,500 brands spread over 75,000m2 in Halls 6 and 7 (the new layout inaugurated in 2023 and confirmed for the 2024 edition) of the Paris-Nord Villepinte exhibition centre, this year’s event promises to be an experience where the exchange of ideas, the discovery of the latest trends, forecasts, training and information are at the heart of the interactions.
SILMO NEXT AREA
the global concept combining creation, innovation and perspective
FUTUROLOGY: the future of possibilities
The “Futurology” space at SILMO Next offers an immersive and captivating dive into the future of optics, with fascinating perspectives for the years 2025 to 2035. Divided into several distinct zones, this space presents technological innovations, customised solutions, and augmented and virtual reality experiences. Visitors can get a concrete idea of the transformations to come in this field, from the shop of tomorrow to connected products. Each zone offers a unique and instructive experience, illustrating the possible futures of the sector and paving the way for new possibilities for the optical industry.
CSR: AT THE HEART OF OPTICS
SILMO is actively committed to supporting the optical industry in adopting sustainable and ethical practices. In partnership with the agency Hyssop, SILMO provides practical guides that decode essential issues such as sourcing, packaging, and transportation to help companies integrate social responsibility into their core activities. These guides offer concrete advice on
reducing ecological footprints, promoting diversity, and improving supply chain transparency. By combining innovation
with responsibility, SILMO supports industry professionals in their transition toward a more sustainable future.
INSPIRATIONS & TRENDS
TRENDS FORUM
Visitors will enjoy a visual snapshot of the shapes, colors, and materials of eyewear, offering a comprehensive overview that highlights the best optical and sunglasses frames from the exhibitors at the show. These are the four trends to watch that will shape the successes of tomorrow:
• FREE COLOURAMA
Frames bursting with bright, cheerful colours or muted and intense. Monochrome, two-tone, three-tone or multi-coloured frames! Shapes as free as colour palettes. Acetate dominates, with combinations for surface effects.
• VIRTUOUS SIMPLICITY
Eyewear that goes straight to the point to convey a minimalist, unadorned style.
A design that’s quiet but not boring! Airy, luminous shapes: the pinnacle of clean lines. Metal holds the rope, but acetate knows how to go on a diet to take its place in the race for purity.
• CLASSIC VARIATIONS
Polo shirts, mackintoshes, jeans, etc. Fashion is constantly reinventing timeless classics. Eyewear is no exception to this perennial trend. Timeless shapes are more popular than ever, a sign of longevity and durability. Vintage design
is less literal and more contemporary, with elegant, relaxed lines.
• FULL SUN
This trend is all about sunglasses. Sunglasses are playing an increasingly important role (with or without the sun!) and this accessory is now well integrated into the collections of major fashion and luxury labels. Not wanting to miss out on this attraction, eyewear designers and established names are taking this buoyant segment by storm with a wide range of original, logo-free products.
The magazine Trends by SILMO, crafted like a true trend book, complements this scenography.
PODCASTS: RIGHT OPTICS BY SILMO
“The Right Optics” is designed to support professionals throughout the year, beyond the borders of the show. These engaging conversations with experts and special guests, all hosted by Nick Coffer, delve deeply into the captivating world of eyewear. The episodes reveal success stories, spotlight exceptional craftsmanship, and share inspiring visions for the future of the industry.
SILMO TV & SILMO NEWS, THE PROGRAMME
During the four days of the show, SILMO TV journalists will be on-site to provide live coverage of all the latest industry developments, ensuring visitors don’t
miss any key moments of the event. With expert analysis, testimonials, and reports, professionals will stay connected to the latest news from SILMO Paris and can also follow SILMO News throughout the year to stay informed about the latest trends and innovations in optics.
DISCOVERING CRAFTSMANSHIP
BEST CRAFTSMEN OF FRANCE
Visitors can explore the must-see workshops of the Best Craftsmen of France (MOFs), where masters of French craftsmanship showcase their exceptional skills. Attendees can witness live demonstrations, including custom frame design, hand shaping, welding, and more.
DESIGN CHALLENGE EXHIBITION
The “Design Challenge” was conceived as a team-based competition, pairing design students with interns from the École de Lunetterie de Morez. The result?
A collection of highly eclectic frames, diverse in both form and inspiration. These different visions of eyewear,
focused on the theme of plant-based materials, highlight inspiring stories of knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
FRENCH EYEWEAR CRAFTSMANSHIP
The French Eyewear Makers will take visitors on a journey to the Jura Mountains to discover the unique expertise of local companies and meet their artisans through captivating demonstrations. This showcase highlights the talent and tradition of eyewear artisans who continue to uphold centuries-old craftsmanship, crucial to the global reputation of “Made in France.”
OYONNAX-MOREZ MUSEUM
This museum, a showcase of French eyewear heritage, presents a fascinating collection of historical objects and innovations that have shaped the optical industry. Visitors can explore this unique exhibition to discover the evolution of frame-making techniques and designs while immersing themselves in the rich history and legacy of the iconic towns of Oyonnax and Morez. It’s an opportunity to get up close to the craftsmanship that has marked the history of eyewear and to immerse yourself in two centuries of eyewear history.
THE SILMO D’OR AWARDS: 30TH ANNIVERSARY
The SILMO d’Or Awards honor technical excellence, creativity, and innovation— key qualities that drive the optical industry into the future. Each year, this event garners attention from professionals and media worldwide, underscoring its significance and impact on the global market.
The 2024 edition of the SILMO d’Or is particularly special as it marks the 30th anniversary of this prestigious event. This milestone celebration not only highlights current innovations but also pays tribute to the progress made over the years.
This anniversary reflects the enduring influence and legacy of this award in the eyewear industry and promises a memorable 2024 SILMO d’Or, emphasizing the importance of craftsmanship in this ever-evolving field.
Alexis Mabille is the chairman of the 2024 Silmo d’Or Awards.
Hailing from Lyon, Alexis Mabille has had a passion for fashion since a very early age. He graduated in 1997 from the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parisienne before working with the major Parisian fashion houses. In 2005, he created his eponymous brand with the aim of blending clothing tradition, a certain sex appeal and the energy of our time. He has been on the official calendar of Haute Couture since 2021.
Passionate about many different artistic disciplines, Alexis Mabille couldn’t simply
RESPONSIBLE COMPANY PRIZE
In today’s context, adopting a comprehensive CSR strategy is essential to meet stakeholder expectations while enhancing the resilience and competitiveness of companies in the optical sector. To encourage these sustainable and responsible practices, SILMO, in collabora-
settle just for clothing. He quickly moves onto other creative realms, including interior decorating with his office Beau Bow. Since 2021, he has even created limited edition furniture.
For Alexis Mabille, a person’s overall environment is an essential component that influences their well-being. Just as a silhouette should emphasise the body while still being comfortable and just as a space’s interior should express the personality of its host while being suited to their lifestyle, a pair of glasses should highlight the character of the person wearing them while being functional and durable. By sharing his design expertise and creative vision with the members of the jury of the 2024 SILMO d’Or awards, he will provide valuable insight into this daily object that only needs to be enhanced by a shape, a material or an innovation.
tion with the agency HYSSOP, has established the Responsible Company Award. This distinction recognizes companies that take a holistic approach, addressing ethical, environmental, and social issues, and actively commit to a more responsible future.
SILMO ACADEMY CONFERENCES
New Format: This year, the SILMO Talks space will also host SILMO Academy, where internationally renowned
OPTICAL DESIGN CONTEST
Promoting craftsmanship, supporting the industry, and stimulating innovation: SILMO Paris also champions future talent with the Optical Design Contest. The third edition of this competition, open to design students from around the world, focuses on eyewear accessories that go beyond vision correction and protection, exploring new functionalities and uses.
Chaired by Olivier Jault, a renowned accessories designer, teacher and curator, and has worked for many fashion houses including Jean Paul Gaultier, Repetto and Saint Laurent, and made up of optics and design professionals, the jury met at the start of July to assess the projects submitted from various design schools and select the most pertinent to the theme.
Jury members reviewed the projects, taking into account their creative,
specialists will reveal the latest research advancements. Program details will be available on silmoparis.com.
innovative design dimension and the proposed product’s use and function within the scope of the theme. The project’s feasibility, including the production of a 3D printed prototype, was also assessed.
The jury will meet at SILMO on the morning of 20 September to choose the winner from among the selected designs:
• DISTROAL by Thomas DeneufbourgÉcole de Design Nantes Atlantique
Glasses as support accessories for users that have specific needs, including people affected by disorders on the autism spectrum and anxiety disorders. Distroal means “calming’ in the Breton language.
• LUCID by Perrine Payen - Rubika
“Forgotten objects” like the pocket watch and the monocle are recycled and find a new life by being transformed into elegant magnifying glasses.
• RHOÉ by Theo Vanpoperynghe - ISD
Rubika
An original designer device to help with eye strain.
• SOUND SIGHT by Nolan Guenot
-Ecole Supérieur De Design de Troyes
Bone conduction glasses, proven technology that is reinvented here with an aerial aesthetic.
• SPECTAPOP by Camille Grand - ISD
Rubika
Glasses with an uncompromising, attention-grabbing, fun design for visual hide-and-seek.
• VIEWPROJECT by Amélie MEERSSEMAN - École de design Nantes Atlantique
Innovative, designer protective eyewear, imagined as fit-over glasses for prescription eyeglass wearers.
Olivier Jault
INTERNATIONAL OPTICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
This award, presented by the IOA (International Opticians Association) in partnership with SILMO Paris, recognizes and honors an optician for their vision and commitment to promoting the values of their profession, both to their colleagues and clients.
The 2024 nominees:
Vitor Martins, a multi-award-winning optician from Portugal, has dedicated 25 years to the optical field. Specializing in high-end products, Vitor enhances customer experiences by offering innovative and sustainable solutions. He has pioneered projects like “Recycle to Help” and leads solidarity missions to provide eyewear to those in need.
Daniel Scott, known as The Eyewear Stylist, has revolutionized eyewear styling in the UK. His bespoke approach focuses on understanding clients’ needs to boost their confidence. With a private studio offering a premium experience, Daniel integrates Colour Analysis and sustainability into his practice.
Hitesh Visavadia has built a thriving optical practice with over 30 years of excellence. A pioneer in specialty lens optics, Hitesh combines innovation with sustainability, offering advanced solutions and highprofile service. His entrepreneurial ventures extend globally, and his charitable initiatives, including eye camps in Africa and India, reflect his commitment to the profession and community.
Phernell Walker, Vice Chair of the American Board of Opticianry, is a renowned speaker and author in the optical field. With 32 years of experience, Phernell has lectured across the USA and internationally, contributing significantly to the profession’s growth. His communityfocused initiatives include volunteering at correctional facilities and developing educational resources like “Pure Optics” to elevate the field of opticianry.
THE OPTYMPICS
A fun and engaging competition, the OPTYMPICS celebrate the intersection of sportsmanship and the fascinating world of optics. Just as athletes push their limits, opticians continuously hone their skills with passion, creativity, and expertise. Participants will challenge each other in a series of tests, each focusing on a specific aspect of their profession: from manual evaluation and measurement of lenses and frames, to fitting skill and
speed. These challenges will not only test their technical knowledge, but also provide moments of entertainment and involvement
Organiser of the event for Silmo Paris is Franca Bochicchio, optician and founder of Radioottica, in collaboration with Nico Caradonna, an optician known in Italy for his blog ‘L’Ottico del Web’ (The Optician of the Web) and Giulia De Martin, the soul of the Blog Behind My Glasses.
The OPTympics celebrate the innate sporting spirit of opticians
by Franca Bochicchio – independent optician and founder of Radioottica
A Tuesday at the end of July. The air is tinged with uncertainty and humidity in one of the most turbulent summers I can remember: the sky mixes the elements with a crazy algorithm as if it has lost its compass, rhythm, and the passage of time. Too many disturbing elements, too much chaos. Too much of everything.
In Milan, which I traverse every day to reach my little corner that has remained true to itself for over forty years, I try to find security in the daily routine that, more than ever at this moment, brings the serenity that the surrounding world denies. It’s all a reassuring and therapeutic daily ritual: opening the door, greeting the neighbors, having coffee, smiling at the customer who walks by, starting the day by welcoming and supporting the crooked glasses, the rebellious screw, and trying to meet all requests from the impossible to the ordinary. In the post-COVID years, phone calls and messages with the strangest requests have multiplied, and the ongoing assistance must reckon with the time constraints of those, like me, who decide to be the sole point of reference for my clients. A choice dictated by a thousand
factors, whose sum is never a number but a person, with all their skills, capabilities, limits, enthusiasm, and the passion of human nature.
I have found myself catapulted into this wonderful world of optics for 15 years now, and I have never stopped studying and taking on challenges of any kind every day. The profession of optician has been defined by centuries of practice and is still at the center of internal and external discussions about its exact placement. Meanwhile, every day like many colleagues, I embark with discipline and willpower, armed with an innate sporting spirit, in what is not a competition but more of a mission: to support people’s visual well-being, to channel clear images into their everyday lives with devices, and to advise when necessary on the appropriate path for each need, redirecting them to specialized professionals who deal with vision. If I ever have the chance to celebrate this silent and industrious category, I will! I have always told myself this. A category that, while it seems to lose identity in the tight and rigid meshes of chains, is instead increasingly brilliant, vibrant, and innovative in the spirit of the independent entrepreneur who never loses their compass but keeps it firmly in hand for themselves and for the sector: people are always at the center.
Radioottica, the spontaneous initiative that became a project born without gestation, conceived and realized in real-time, launched online with a smile infused with hope and desperation in the midst of the pandemic, has captured my hidden desire to contribute in some way to not losing the path but rather to build one, encouraging the sharing of thoughts and experiences from
colleagues and other figures in the sector. Radioottica has created many connections and generated a positive imprint of sharing among those who have experienced it and continue to do so whenever it finds a voice.
The opportunities to celebrate this category with an international breath, however, came thanks to the friends at Silmo Paris, always ready to listen to you and welcome your ideas, even if you are small and the only things you have are plenty of passion, two hands, and a head. For a few years, I have been welcomed and have personally followed the projects born from my ideas: last year, Place d’Italie, dedicated to the spirit and genius of Italy, always appreciated by our cousins across the Alps, and this year, the OPTympics. How could I miss the opportunity to highlight the natural “sporting” approach of opticians—dedication, commitment, passion, respect, Fair Play, teamwork—and celebrate them in a Paris that this year has managed to express the values of sport in every form and expression? The dedication of opticians to their profession is a true and continuous “training” in the daily practice of a large number of tasks: from the constant updating of a profession that enriches itself every day with new knowledge, industry studies, new technologies, new materials in the ophthalmic and technical fields to marketing and communication strategies, both indoors in the physical store and outdoors in the social and web world, culminating in the entrepreneur’s work in managing the business comprehensively.
The OPTympics will be a space in the heart of pavilion 7 dedicated to a sort of challenge designed to test the practical and theoretical skills that opticians acquire in their daily training. Before using any measuring tool, an optician’s eyes pass through the lenses of the client in front of them to intuit their power. It’s a simple and natural gesture that initiates all the subsequent processes in their mind. It is from a reflection on this simple distinguishing feature that the idea arises to invite opticians to take part in a sort of challenge with themselves and against time. A challenge based on the ability to measure lenses accurately with their eyes and hands, in the skill and speed of mounting and dismounting frames in an atmosphere of sharing and friendly competition. A ranking by country, always visible to all participants, will be the thermometer of the OPTympics,
which aims to be a moment of fun and gathering that lightly highlights the qualities of opticians. A category that testifies how, in the inevitable technological evolution, the centrality of the human being is fundamental, still the most powerful machine we possess. Thanks to Silmo, the international optics fair that every year opens the doors to the new year with its load of innovations and the allure that has fascinated our sector for thirty years, the OPTympics will accompany the 2024 edition with their energy to be shared among all those who will put their innate sporting spirit at stake, which for opticians always starts from the eyes and always reaches the heart.
I am still searching for my gift of ubiquity… but with little success :-) Therefore, I apologize in advance to my loyal clients who will have to do without me for a few days. They know well that in the windows of DIECIDECIMI Glasstylist, which they appreciate so much, my journey to Silmo Paris every year brings a breath of freshness and novelty. I won’t disappoint you this time either; I will manage to capture all the energy from the fair and the initiatives I participate in with great enthusiasm.
My world, my eyes naturally revolve around you.
Funkadelic: chic and empowering
Caroline Abram’s new release is a masterclass in the art of color and sculpture
As a Parisian designer with an eye for the extraordinary, Caroline crafts eyewear that transcends mere functionality, offering pieces that are definitive style statements. Her collections are an ode to women who seek to feel not just beautiful, but sensual and empowered, seamlessly blending Parisian glamour with a touch of vintage allure. Every pie-
ce in Caroline’s collection is more than just an accessory; it’s a canvas for selfexpression. Her designs, celebrated for their oversized, architectural curves and vibrant color palettes, provide women with the ultimate tool to complement their mood, makeup, and daily ensemble. Her brand’s philosophy is as chic as it is empowering: eyewear should be as versatile and dynamic as the women who wear it, adapting effortlessly to every twist and turn of their style journey. This season, all eyes are on Funkadelic, Caroline’s latest collection, which takes her bold vision to new heights. Like a master sculptor, Caroline shapes and carves acetate sheets, creating intricate details designed to capture and play with light. Funkadelic is a riot of vibrant colors, paired with feminine tones and oversized, unconventional designs that demand attention. The collection’s 8 mm acetate sheets are meticulously sculpted and hand-polished by expert artisans, preserving sharp edges and amplifying the curves that define Funkadelic. Caroline’s signature Art Deco motif graces the temple tips, adding a sophisticated finishing touch.
DIVEL keeps growing
Lenses currently sold in more than 50 countries
Divel Italia finished the first half of the year with robust growth on the strength of the latest strategies implemented during the period and the company’s increasing presence in Italy. This includes the start of operations of a new warehouse in Catania. Divel now has 11 branch locations throughout Italy, including the Milan laboratory that was renovated and automated in late 2023, all supporting the Bologna headquarters in Calderara di Reno. Divel products are distributed worldwide. Divel Albania, in Tirana, was the first international location to be opened. Divel Albania is both a commercial and production site and serves the entire Balkan market with the production and distribution of prescription and standard lenses for Albania and neighboring countries. In 2012, the company inaugurated Divel Shanghai for the production of standard lenses and a portion of Divel’s sun filters, which are then distributed directly throughout the world. A couple of years later, Divel France was opened in Lyon. There is no production there, but thanks to its proximity to Italy and the presence of local agents in France, we are able to distribute within the French market all the lenses produced at our Italian laboratory. In 2020 Divel Lens Morocco opened in Casablanca. Divel’s first prescription-lens production lab in Africa, this location manufactures and distributes Divel lenses throughout
the country and northwestern Africa. Despite adversities related to the ongoing war, Divel Lens Ukraine has also become operational and is fortunately able to carry out commercial activities as we await the installation of production machinery when the war is over. In the same year, we also inaugurated Divel Lens Egypt in Cairo. Finally, Divel United Vision Romania was recently inaugurated in Brasov.
Passion, creativity, design and technology.
Go Eyewear wants to amaze at Silmo with the new Ana Hickmann collection
The highly anticipated FW24 collection is noted for its bold use of color and innovative designs
The new winter offerings of Ana Hickmann Eyewear include optical frames bursting with unexpected, wonderful hues. The brand brings back its signature pyramidal temples, which were a huge success last season, for several new styles. The collection also expands the Duofashion line of mix-and-match frames with a range of fresh color combinations.
Crafted with the modern individual in mind, the AH9450 style combines contemporary flair with timeless appeal. Whether you’re at work, socializing with friends, or exploring the city, this style effortlessly complements any occasion.
Go Eyewear will introduce also the new T-CHARGE EYEWEAR Collection that redefines Contemporary Style for Urban Men.
This meticulously curated collection offers a diverse range of optical and sunglass frames in various colors, designed to cater to the discerning tastes of urban men.
From sleek acetate frames to durable metal and titanium options, the collection offers a wide selection to suit individual preferences and style sensibilities. With a focus on merging functionality with fashion, these frames are set to elevate any look and leave a lasting impression.
T-CHARGE T6335G
Ana Hickmann AH9450
HALL
HAZEL: stylish today, classic tomorrow
IMAGO EYEWEAR’s i-spax collection confirming the unique blend of purism and modernity
Originally conceived as a counterpoint to the extravagant designs of the Imago brand, i-spax has evolved into an iconic collection in its own right. It embodies simplicity and timeless style without sacrificing individuality. Richard Rembs, the designer behind the collection, aptly summarized the essence of i-spax on its anniversary: “Modernity – Style – Emotions – Beautiful Frames!” Over the years, i-spax has introduced an impressive range of models that cover all aspects of eyewear design. From elegant acetate frames to minimalist half-rim models and delicate rimless or metal designs, the collection demonstrates that purism does not equate monotony. Instead, i-spax proves that simplicity and variety can go hand in hand.
A new addition to the collection is the
model HAZEL, a hexagonal metal frame in size 53, which immediately captivates without being overpowering. This frame is a timeless eye-catcher that will remain stylish for years to come. Available in five harmonious color combinations, HAZEL suits nearly every face shape, subtly yet effectively accentuating the wearer’s individual style.
Additionally, i-spax offers a wide range of classic designs, from narrow to deep lens shapes, available in both monoblock and wireframe options. These models are thin and discreet in the front view, while a thicker and often colorful design surprises when viewed from above. These and many other details show that i-spax expertly combines classic elegance with modern accents, always staying in tune with the times.
Silmo Paris: 7 H246
Functionality feat. Fashion
INVU showcasing bold designs for self-confident men and for Gen Z
In the early 20th century, protective side shields were introduced to enhance eye safety for motorists and explorers. Today this component has been reinserted in the eyewear design not only with a functional purpose but to emphasize a timeless perception, creating a brand-newday evergreen. As a matter of fact, for the 2025 season, the INVU Design Team has taken inspiration from this functional feature and beautifully transformed it into a bold fashion statement tailored for the modern, self-assured man. By combining the subtle side shields, that provide peripheral light protection, with the proprietary ultra polarized lens from Swiss Eyewear Group, the stylish men not only enhance their appearance, but also experience superior visual clarity. Here we
go with a joint venture between functionality and fashion, where the first one is the reason why eyewear exists and the second is the guest star. And also, after successfully conducting test marketing earlier this year for the new EKKIU brand in the trendsetting eyewear markets of Italy and Greece, Swiss Eyewear Group proudly announces the global launch of EKKIU at Silmo Paris. The brand captures the essence of Gen Z, celebrating individuality with bold, colorful looks. The spirited new collection is designed and engineered in Switzerland and crafted in handmade environmentally friendly acetate. With the addition of high-end Eastman Tritan lenses, EKKIU offers not only high fashion, but also state-of-the-art optics and superior clarity.
KWIAT: a niche brand built on family tradition
Perfect Balance of Quality, Style, and Affordability
For over 30 years, KWIAT has set a standard in the optical industry by combining design with affordability. More than just eyewear, KWIAT is a niche brand built on family tradition, craftsmanship, and a commitment to providing opticians with premium products at accessible prices. The story of KWIAT began in 1962 when Michael Cwetkow met and fell in love with Dr. Maria, a Polish woman from a noble family. Their love inspired the creation of the company, and in 1991, Michael and his son Pawel founded KWIAT, naming it after the Polish word for “flower” – a symbol of Michael’s devotion to Maria. In the 1990s, Pawel met Edyta while studying in Poland, and together they returned to Bulgaria to take over the family business. Initially representing global eyewear brands, they soon discovered their passion for designing their own line. In 2003, KWIAT was born, offering stylish sunglasses and prescription frames that balance fashion-forward trends with comfort and durability.
KWIAT stands out for its unbeatable pri-
ce-to-quality ratio. Each model is crafted with premium materials like Italian acetates, German stainless steel, and titanium. These frames are not only durable and stylish but also affordably priced, allowing opticians to offer high-end designs without the high-end price tag.
KWIAT’s first collection, created over two years, featured just 45 models. Today, the brand continues to release and built on the foundation of family values, innovation, and quality. The company’s heritage is deeply rooted, reflected in its longtime employees and even the artwork in the office, passed down from Pawel’s grandmother.
KWIAT’s strength lies in its passion for creating eyewear that blends high-end design with practicality. The brand believes that while business can thrive anywhere, it is in Bulgaria that its values of love and integrity truly flourish. Opticians partnering with KWIAT gain more than just access to top-quality eyewear – they join a brand committed to trust, integrity, and long-term relationships.
Marcolin Group at SILMO 2024
Pucci returns to the Maison’s textures and Tom Ford confirms itself as an offbeat brand
EP0232 of Pucci Eyewear - Sunglasses with a butterfly shape and soft, rounded lines. The style features bursts of vibrant color alternating with monochromatic versions. Frames are characterized by the innovative contrast between interior and exterior, with the Iris motif defining the vivacious personality of this silhouette.
The TOM FORD ICON COLLECTION presents style FT1102, with sophisticated elegance and an exuberant personality. A seductive frame designed to guide beauty into the future with details created to be iconic.
The geometric shape of style EZ0252, belonging to the ZEGNA Eyewear Collection, accentuates this frame’s rounded volume and spoiler, creating an interplay between shape and light. Featuring ZEGNA Eyewear’s key elements, as well as the iconic brandmark endpiece, the grip paddles at the temple tips guarantee a superior fit.
A reflection of the times. Traveling between past and future, MW0012 sunglasses by MCM Eyewear bring to the present the combination of a slim, rectangular metal front and bold acetate temples. A metal enameled plaque on the side reproduces a maxi ridge detail of the Laurel logo.
Pucci EP0232
Tom Ford FT1102
T3 Zegna EZ0252
MCM Eyewear MW0012
Connecting eras
MOREL’s expertise in the new trendy and comfortable ranges for him and her
As an eyewear maker since 1880, MOREL stands out as one of the few fully independent French manufacturers with a global presence. With over 140 years of history, the company, led by the fourth generation of the Morel family, continues to expand into new markets with compelling collections and a strong commitment to quality. While artisanal expertise remains central to their identity, a passion for innovation is also ingrained in their DNA, enabling them to continuously reinvent themselves. This connection between eras is symbolized in their new campaign “Looking Forward since 1880”. Paying homage to their origins while being modern, the eyewear company allows the past to meet the future, and innovation to accompany tradition. For the new sunglasses range, MOREL has aimed for excellence. Ultra-trendy and original, this collection features exceptional acetates for a stunning result: the characteristic thickness of models like Kea enhances the exceptional coloring. Vibrant and surprising hues for the new women’s range too. Paired with original shapes, the models, such as Noémie, show an exceptional collage of three acetates for a striking play of contrasts. This new collection has been designed with a perfectly balanced approach between fashion and comfort. The men’s models also benefit from a remarkable touch of innovation. The new bridge design by MOREL, laser-engraved, is available on the Bergen model, which offers total comfort.
Noémie
Kea
Bergen
Racing for luxury
De Rigo introducing a new special edition
Police presents the new “Police x George Russell” limited edition, the first created by Formula 1 driver George Russell who, as designer, has customised his favourite Police model by adding unique details that capture the essence of sporty elegance. The panthos front of the Police Origins sunglasses model has been customised with the numbers 6 and 3, which make up George Russell’s racing number and which, transformed into Roman characters, decorate and give a touch of exclusivity to the glasses. The driver’s name engraved on the lens, his logo applied to the inside of the temple and the number 63 on the temple tip symbolise the unique bond between George Russell and Police.
The sunglasses have been produced in two colour variants, vintageinspired havana with grey/green lenses and glossy black with blue gradient lenses, each available in only 63 pieces.
A black and blue box set, the colours of the pilot, customised with the George Russel logo, characterises this collection, making each piece a unique collector’s item for fans. With this new project that unites the worlds of fashion and motor racing, Police once again confirms the strength of its partnership with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, of which it is Official Team Supplier from 2019.
George Russell
SHADOW & LIGHT: carved in perfect harmony
Highlighting Chiaroscuro
Fall-Winter 2025-25 Collections
Talla Eyewear presents two perfectly balanced collections: SHADOW is carved in dark, deep tones from each block of raw material, with a sculptory precision, offering the refinement of elegant lines and meticulous finishes, creating an unexpected visual harmony. Through the interplay of shadows, light and materials with a masculine elegance, these frames reveal their depth and character. Each piece is a work of art, illuminated by a touch of mystery and sophistication.
The LIGHT collection embodies the perfect balance between transparency and color. The delicate silhouette is crafted in crystalline ADCA acetate which redefines and put in the spotlight the intensity of each glaze.
SNOB Milano unveils new clip-on collection
A proposal full of technicalities and fine stylistic details
On the threshold of its tenth year of activity, which will be officially celebrated next spring, SNOB Milano, the Milanese brand pioneer in the magnetic clip-on segment, presents its new collection at Silmo. A proposal that winds between trends and classic shapes, between warm and enveloping colours and more traditional shades, between technicalities and fine stylistic details. Every season the company offers around 300/350 references divided between the main line made of plastic, the bio lux collection made of plant-derived bio-plastic combined with beta-titanium temples and the high end segment made of pure titanium. ZEISS Sunlens, as always, guaranteeing the highest quality standards.
Seven new models in plastic, three in titanium and two in bio-lux will make their debut at Silmo.
The highlight will be the ODEON eyewear, a masculine model characterised by significant thicknesses and wide, bold temples, all accentuated by colours that give strong personality, especially when combined with the new amber-coloured ZEISS Sunlens lens, which makes its debut in the collection. Same concept for the BIGIOIA model, feminine and more sinuous but still with a bold look.
On the other hand, the BELLA LI, LA PROF, VETRA and PLASTIC models - all names again in homage to the city of Milan and its famous landmarks in the 1980s and 1990s - offer thinner and lighter profiles Bella Li, for example, is a men’s eyeglass
with a very traditional design but with a very large size, 56 - the largest in the collection - and was deliberately introduced for a face type that was not previously covered.
Slim profiles and wide lenses also for RIBOT and LAICA, offered both in the plastic version and in their alter egos in Bio Lux with a bio plastic front and beta titanium temples.
The titanium models ING., SCIANTOSA and VELOCE close the circle. Made from a single milled piece, Ing. and Sciantosa are technical and lightweight glasses, offered not only in traditional colours such as gunmetal or black but also in less usual versions such as aubergine or cornflower blue. Veloce, finally, is made using the traditional method, welded, with a double bridge and thick rims, eyewear with a vaguely vintage but extremely contemporary geometric design.
Powerful and striking
The Black-Forest spectacles manufactory Lunor has set a striking statement with its launch of the A14 collection last year. The acetate line with expressive “bold aesthetics” is expanded with two extraordinary shapes and three warm color shades now. In addition, the A12 collection gets an exciting update in two-tone look with soft color gradients.
The A14 by Lunor inspires with its clearly defined design and a characteristic frame made of acetate that recalls the sense of life and look of the seventies. The massive, retro-inspired frame had been available in the shapes anatomic (oval-rectangular), square, round, and panto (oval-round) – that line has been expanded with the models A14 704 (men), and A14 705 (unisex): Hexagonal with an avantgarde touch as well as a squarer interpretation of the panto classic.
The entire line also gets a color freshening-up. Until now, Black and Havana patterns set the fashion; three warm, earthy shades are added now: Dark
Brown Spotted, Red Brown Spotted, and Tokyo Tortoise Opaque.
Michael Fux, CEO and Head Designer of Lunor, explains the idea behind this color concept: “When selecting the new colors, we drew our inspiration from the special light and colors of Africa. The two brown shades contrast as quieter variants with the existing Havana shades, and perfectly match the retro style of the frame. The Tokyo Tortoise Opaque shade radiates liveliness with its speckled amber, brown, and honey shades, and rounds off the color range.”
The A12 collection revives the golden 1920s with its minimized shape and fine rim around the eyes. Lunor gave all models lowered cheeks and a keyhole bridge as characteristic design elements. Within the ten existing frame shapes of the line, classic shades had been dominating; now, those existing smoky colors, and two-color crystal frames for the A12 501, A12 508, A12 509, and A12 510 models are supplemented with three new gradient colors: Sepia Brown Gradient, Blue Ink Gradient, and Bordeaux Red Gradient. The subdued smoky shades merge into a colored and (semi) transparent crystal, which provides for an exciting ombre look.
All acetate frames by Lunor are elaborately handcrafted by experienced spectacle makers in Southern Germany and provided with the Lunor characteristic double rivet hinge – which is both a quality feature and trademark of the spectacles manufactory that has always deliberately done without logos, and has relied on convincing and timeless design instead.
Coll. A14 mod 704
The SILMO novelties of 2024 by Lunor
Coll. A12 mod 501 in Sepia Brown Gradient
Coll. A14 mod 705
Christopher John Rogers x Andy Wolf
Faceted details ensure the frames catch the light from every angle
For his first foray into accessories, designer Christopher John Rogers has teamed up with Austrian eyewear brand ANDY WOLF on his first sunglass model. Named the Linden, after the Brooklyn Street on which Rogers first studio was established, the oversized, geometric frame epitomizes CJ´s vision of high-octane glamour tempered with American pragmatism.
The unisex style is crafted from a sustainable acetate and equipped with ZEISS lenses. True to CJR’s affinity for color, the Linden is produced in four striking hues: a classic black frame with vivid blue lenses, a creamy Magnolia frame with vintage yellow lenses, an ombré Tobacco frame with petrol-green lenses, and a transparent Rhubarb frame with red-orange gradient lenses.
MEI in Paris
An automated system that, with its integrated cobot, feeds the EasyFit Trend machine with increasing independence from manual interventions, enhancing productivity. EasyBuddy is precise and allows opticians to concentrate on things more important than feeding their lens edging machine. It can manage up to five trays at the entrance and five at the exit. Moreover, it is possible to add an automatic stacker-destacker system or connect to external conveyors to further increase the production’s autonomy. The trays’ loading and unloading do not affect the machine’s operations, and EasyFit remains always available for manual intervention if necessary. Thus, the operator can prepare the jobs through the LMS (lab management system), an offline station, or directly on the machine.
The new EasyBuddy at SILMO
Happy anniversary Kirk & Kirk!
The history behind a successful decade of collections
Silmo ‘24 marks 10 years since Kirk & Kirk’s first collection. If that feels like a surprise it might be because British designers, Jason and Karen Kirk, have been creating eyewear for more than 30 years. The Kirk family optical history began over a 100 years ago when brothers Sidney and Percy Kirk launched Kirk Brothers, with the sole objective of establishing London as the centre of optical excellence. They helped other competitive companies set up factories, figuring that if the industry did well, they would do well, a generous approach which would serve our industry well today.
They were also great innovators, creating ‘Facifit’the first adjustable nose-pads, and creating all sorts of tools and marketing which they shared across the profession. Two generations later, husband and wife, Jason and Karen, express their innovation, principally through the material that they use.
A
statement of style
VANNI displaying creativity and responsibility
Big volumes and distinctive shapes for HIGHLINE V1666, an imaginative pair of glasses full of personality, featuring the exclusive acetate Flash plate designed by the VANNI style centre in bright red and black. A true style statement. The brand’s models are not only beautiful but also responsible, thanks to a very good LCA (Life Cycle Assestment). An eyewear from the VANNI collections has a CO2 footprint of 2.35 kg, below the industry benchmark, achieved by using Italian raw materials and choosing to produce everything in Italy.
Mod Sophia
Nannini
Italian Quality Celebrated 70 Years
The evolution of a historical company
Founded in 1954 and so celebrating in 2024 its 70th anniversary, Nannini initially specialized in the production of motorcycle glasses. Within a few years, production expanded through the study of new processes and the launch of innovative models. In 2008, a new corporate structure reshaped the company’s future, leading to a true evolution of the business. Today, Nannini owns four proprietary brands: Common Ground, Eyecare, Giorgio Nannini and Onirico
Fashion, design and craftsmanship come together to create the new Giorgio Nannini FW24 collection. The model Loris by Giorgio Nannini is the perfect reflection of this timeless style: bold design, transparent grey acetate paired with green lenses and substantial thickness.
CONCEPT SQUARE by J.F. REY
Unexpected contrasts, unveiled transparencies and sublimated shapes
The key concept of the new women’s optical collection, SQUARE, celebrates the J.F. REY’s signature square by drawing inspiration from the geometric constructions and colored filters of the artist Daniel Buren. It stands out with an eye-catching design and innovative work with acetate, featuring unique structural, color, and transparency effects. This line embodies a creative fusion between modern art and architecture, upgrading each of these frames into a true visual work of art.
The geometric construction of the temples defines this concept: a minimalist aesthetic structured by combining elementary forms in metal and acetate, with contrasts between opaque and translucent materials, monochrome shades and refined patterns.
Mod Ruby
{rewind}:
a celebration of pure elegance
The brand is consolidating its identity and strengthening the presence
The {rewind} collection represents a perfect blend of tradition and modernity - a celebration of timeless elegance and technical innovation. Each piece is made from high-quality materials, selected for their durability and beauty. The design draws inspiration from the iconic forms of the past, reinterpreted in a contemporary key. Each component of the collection is chosen for durability and comfort. Since its launch, the collection has received an enthusiastic response. Initial sales have exceeded expectations, confirming the validity of the offering. In addition, the collection has opened up new opportunities for collaboration with domestic and international partners, further strengthening the market position.
Rolf Eyewear
The Austrian company arrives at SILMO 24 with many novelties
For Silmo, Rolf Eyewear unveils thirteen brandnew styles from five distinct eyewear collections. Inspired by the refined elegance and timeless romance of France, the Classics models feature eyewear designs that highlight a vintage, sophisticated aesthetic.
A refreshing twist of eyewear designs from the typically understated and traditional design language of Rolf. Johannes Wacker, Rolf’s designer, adds an unexpected spin that provides an enticing allure. “About a quarter of our new designs - which we’ve named Character - are bold, vibrant, and extravagant, perfectly matching the fashion capital - Paris. These pieces are for courageous, fashion-forward wearers.”
Mod Countdown C65
Fusion collection
FUSIONI 146
The new Lamarca’s iconic frame
FUSIONI 146 by Lamarca is a large frame with an attractive design, a strong colour contrasts and a stunning blend of solid and clear acetate in different shades. This style from the FUSIONI line is the flagship frame of this season, part of Lamarca’s September release for international markets and serves as the leading style for the upcoming autumn/winter season.
This style has a distinctive design that simulates a graphic pattern. The milled details create sequential reliefs, and attractive colour contrasts form a captivating palette. Its adaptable size makes it a versatile choice, enabling opticians to offer it as both prescription glasses and sunglasses.
Rosa Rose Waterlily
LOVE CHILD COLLECTION
Celebrating the duality of who we are
The fashion and optical brand from Antwerp KOMONO presents its new LOVE CHILD COLLECTION, a capsule of 10 opticals and 4 sunglasses, that perfectly embodies the dualities present in everyday life that characterize us as humans. The twist? Each frame is a love child of two already-existing glasses that were completely different in the first place. Yet, merging them results in a harmonious balance of shape, texture and colour.
The LOVE CHILD COLLECTION celebrates the harmony of our multifaceted self and reminds us that we all have our own dualities: whether it’s in our hobbies, personality or in the way we dress.
mod.
Ready for a further evolutionary step?
A niche (albeit strategic) sector in the fashion system, eyewear has had to face major changes in recent years. But the challenges are not over and the sector can still make a quantum leap. How? We talk about it with Gianluca Davanzo, COO Eurmoda Group
by Roberta Mella Simion
A long experience in the world of eyewear, with his entry into the sector in the 1990s and a privileged vision of how some of the biggest groups in the sector have evolved and transformed over the last 30 years: Safilo, De Rigo, Marcolin and lastly Thélios, where Gianluca Davanzo held the position of Industrial Director from 2019 to 2024. Today, he is COO Chief Operating of Eurmoda Group, a company operating in the fashion accessories sector for major luxury players, with 10 companies in Veneto, Emilia Romagna and Tuscany covering all the technologies of the sector.
Your journey in the world of eyewear has touched several major companies in the sector. How has the eyewear industry and market changed over the years?
“From its pioneering beginnings at the turn of the century, to the development and industrialisation of the 1980s and 1990s, but particularly the last 30
years, the eyewear sector has been revolutionised and changed, achieving a very high quality of management and product quality. The important growth of the sector, particularly in Italy, has been indispensable to be able to compete as excellence in the world and keep up with other production areas and increasingly global competitive markets.
The choices made by enlightened entrepreneurs, such as Del Vecchio and De Rigo, aimed at managing the entire supply chain from component to retail, also through the acquisition of chains of proprietary shops, have forced the sector to measure itself against these new supply and market conditions. Another important change in the last decade is due to the direct entry into the sector of large global luxury groups such as Kering and LVMH, with the aim of obtaining a proprietary production chain in order to be able to control processes and manage developments in a context that is increasingly similar to timing and logic of the fashion world. This strategy, in total contrast to the logic of the sector, has considerably shuffled the cards, but I would not be surprised if other big players in the fashion sector follow suit in the coming years. The market’s perception of the eyewear product, which we must not forget is a medical and protective device, is increasingly that of a fashion accessory to complete a total look defined by the Maison stylists, and consequently acquires the same timing rules in boutiques and optical centres’.
How has this sector evolved?
“The sector has evolved and continues to evolve in terms of the product, thanks to the constant R&D (research and development, ed.) that both large groups and small artisans carry out with passion, from research into materials, to
the incorporation of new technologies looking at other sectors, under the important drive of sustainability and recycling. The other evolutions are linked to the managerial experience that this sector manages to attract on an ongoing basis, incorporating skills and methods that enable it to improve control and performance. Eyewear is a sector that is often underestimated and trivialised, but it has many complexities: these include knowing how to combine aesthetics and fashion with the structure and rules of a medical product, and the ability to combine cutting-edge technology, craftsmanship and savoirefaire in the same production process’.
How has it improved and worsened?
“I believe that, like all products of Italian excellence in the world, it is constantly improving. People in the sector today work in organised environments and companies that comply with all the requirements and regulations in force, in bright and fashionable areas, in a sector that, although a niche in the
world economy and fashion itself, makes an important contribution to GDP and employment in Italy. The everincreasing closeness to the fashion world makes it acquire and sometimes suffer the times and evolutions of fashion, but thanks to the ability to team up between Brands/Big Players and Suppliers, this too will be a further evolutionary step.
What is the role of eyewear today within the accessories sector and the fashion system in general?
“Eyewear, as a sector as a whole and as an accessory specifically, is increasingly a complement to the total look defined by designers and fashion houses. Eyewear is seen as a fashion accessory, more and more luxury and increasingly attractive as ‘luxury accessible’. It represents a market segment that the Maisons want to intercept. Fashion accessories and eyewear components have many elements in common: if intelligently managed, they can complement and improve each other, combining different skills, materials and improving responsiveness to the demands of brands’.
What are the critical issues and what is missing to make a further qualitative leap?
“One of the critical issues that this sector is experiencing, and which accumulates it with others in the various Italian districts of excellence, is the lack of manpower, specialised personnel and professional figures from technical institutes to train and prepare them for the new technologies and the world of work. More and more often, companies are forced to resort to the creation of in-house academies to prepare and train the personnel of tomorrow. In the Belluno area, for some years now, technical institutes have become aware of these needs and have created specific courses to train young people. The future of eyewear and a further evolutionary step of
the sector, in terms of performance and quality of products and materials, could be determined by collaboration - already in the development phase of models and collections - directly with Partners/Suppliers. In this way, optimal use would be made of the skills and technologies that exist today, made available by strategic Partners/ Suppliers, sharing from the outset the technical choices in order to obtain the best product, both in aesthetic and functional terms’.
Gianluca Davanzo
Discovering the more human side of the people who make this sector unique
If words matter, people matter even more, much more. We are finally learning about a “modern humanism”, rediscovering the value of human capital and the importance of caring for this heritage in every economic and social reality. Sustainability and business also pass through the way of relating, of building and developing relationships between people: the contribution that a single individual can give to a company, a brand, an entire sector is invaluable, above all by acting to the maximum of its potential.
For this reason we believe that human beings represent the most interesting topic there is and we have created a column where, from time to time, people in the sector will answer some questions about their tastes, attitudes and values. The interview will not focus on business, the aim is not to contrast roles and companies but to spontaneously bring out the different personalities that make the world of optics and eyewear unique.
By Roberta Mella Simion
Barbara De Rigo Chief Marketing and Corporate Communication Director
Davide Degl’Incerti Tocci President &
CEO
Nannini Italian Quality S.r.l., Vice President ANFAO and President DaTE
Barbara De Rigo Chief Marketing and Corporate Communication Director DE RIGO VISION S.p.A.
1. The reference icon Frida Kahlo
2. The motivating motto I never loose: I either win or learn (mostly the second!)
3. The must have
A pair of Zilo, an Italian classic
4. The cult
The movie “Frankenstein Junior” by Mel Brooks,
The song “Every Breath You Take” by Police,
The novel “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
5. Favorite artist
Sting
6. The most fascinating historical period
The Seventies
7. The most appreciable quality in a colleague
Passion and sincerity
8. The most unacceptable thing
Falseness and indifference
9. One’s strengths and weaknesses
A strong will and honesty
10. The dream, the ambition
To see my daughters satisfied and fulfilled. Never give up!
Davide Degl’Incerti Tocci
President & CEO Nannini Italian
Quality S.r.l., Vice President
ANFAO
and President DaTE
1. The reference icon
Adriano Olivetti
2. The motivating motto
“To do, to know how to do, to know how to make it work, to let it be known” - Angelo Gaja, wine entrepreneur
3. The must have A bracelet on my wrist
4. The cult Italian indie in the background
5. Favorite artist
Jeff Koons
6. The most fascinating historical period Illuminism for the prominence of rationality and for the affirmation of rights and tolerance
7. The most appreciable quality in a colleague
Loyalty and resourcefulness
8. The most unacceptable thing
Falsehood
9. One’s strengths and weaknesses
Determination and touchiness
10. The dream, the ambition
To become a model in Made in Italy manufacturing
Road test for adidas
Sport’s
DUNAMIS
model: the card of two non-professional athletes
Roberta
Mella Simion
This month’s product
Fit, comfort, ventilation, visibility and aesthetics: these are the evaluation criteria we asked two amateur sportsmen and women, passionate about cycling and running. The result is technical reviews, from which the optician can draw valuable information and insights to spend with the customer interested in performance sunglasses.
Inspired by the ancient Greek concept that expresses the individual’s inner strength, the new DUNAMIS model by adidas Sport Eyewear embodies the energy, sporting attitude and quest for innovation and excellence that characterise the brand. The eyewear has a unique thermoformed lens, meticulously designed and constructed by Marcolin to guarantee optimal performance and provide athletes with an extremely high-performance tool. The lightweight, aerodynamic and stable frame is made to offer safety and comfort.
model by adidas Sport Eyewear
A pair of glasses that redefines performance-oriented design standards
Calibre 148
Base 7
Bridge 00
Rod 120
Weight 27 g
The Competition line goggle with free lens features an ultra-light wraparound shape with innovatively designed lower profiles. The temples feature an efficient front air intake and are contoured to ensure an excellent fit. Rubber end pieces offer optimal comfort and grip. The new 3-Bar logo is inserted on the front, becoming a functional element that ensures the attachment point between the temples and the lens. The model features special oleophobic and hydrophobic anti-dust and anti-scratch treatments, ensuring better performance and durability. The lens is designed to reduce glare and enhance colour perception
Marco Viappiani, 38 years old, digital marketing consultant
I have been practising Triathlon at an amateur level for many years and wore the adidas Sport DUNAMIS model during a bike training session in the Brescian region of Italy, a total of 150 km. The route was characterised by several altitude differences, with many challenging climbs and descents. The weather conditions were very sunny. In addition, I tested the glasses during two running occasions: a 17km long run on flat terrain, on a cloudy and sometimes rainy day, and during a 12km flat run on a grey day. Here is my review.
Fit and comfort
They are really light and do not cause any discomfort. They are very comfortable both on the bike and when running. On the bike, they also fit easily on the case.
Aeration
The goggles are very tight-fitting. Since I suffer from seasonal allergies, it is important for me that the goggle has a highly filtering and protective action against atmospheric agents, to reduce eye contact with pollen.
Visibility
Excellent on sunny days. The model is very opaque, so it is perfect for cycling as it shields from air and dust, allowing you to look far ahead and maintain excellent visibility both uphill and downhill.
Aesthetics
The glasses are also very light to the touch, the look is very nice. They have a retro and modern look at the same time. They give a quite aggressive look.
Personal notes
Excellent product, very nice and interesting looking. I recommend it especially on very sunny days, whether cycling or running, but also for car trips or other occasions that are not just sporty.
Andi Szilagyi, 42 years old, Project manager
I have carried out several training sessions wearing adidas Sport’s DUNAMIS sunglasses: a long, slow run of 28km on asphalt, lasting 2 hours and 45 minutes, in weather conditions varying from rain to clearing with strong light; a short run with high-speed repetitions, lasting a total of 1 hour, also on asphalt; a bike ride of about 4 hours over 110km, in sunny conditions. I’m looking for a pair of performance sunglasses that fit my narrow face, that don’t slip in sweat or rain, and with lenses that adapt to different light conduction. Here is my review..
Fit and comfort
Excellent: surprisingly, they stayed in place throughout the entire run, even though they seemed wide at first. They didn’t slip on the nose, the lenses covered the right size of the face. Even for cycling, they fit perfectly on the helmet.
Aeration
Excellent: no fogging in both heat and sweat and in the rain.
There was no fogging even when I stopped (an inconvenience that often happens with other glasses).
Visibility
Good but can be improved in responsiveness to sudden changes in light.
Aesthetics
A definitely beautiful mask, both in colour and design, which can be combined with different helmets and cycling outfits.
Personal notes
I preferred them for running.
FEBRUARY 8-10, 2025
Fiera Milano, Rho
8-10 2025 FEBRUARY
Davide Degl’Incerti Tocci, already ANFAO vice-president in charge of the Youth Group, digitalisation and internationalisation, as well as CEO of Nannini Italian Quality, is the new president of DaTE, the eyewear event dedicated to avant-garde and innovation. The new dates of the show were also announced (after the cancellation of the 2024 edition) from 13 to 15 September 2025.
“The key words such as avant-garde, creativity, daring, contamination, inspiration, originality, research, which have allowed DaTE to establish itself on the national scene in a well-defined niche, will still be our pillars,’ comments the new president, ’but, for the next edition, new ideas and new concepts will be reflected in all aspects of the event: in the location, the format and the indispensable business possibilities, expanded in accordance with the needs of the market.”
A few months after the closing of the deal that saw Thélios acquire the ex-Safilo plant in Longarone, the company has almost completed the project for the absorption of the 250 or so workers who joined the team, ahead of the schedule set out in the industrial plan.
Thélios also announced an investment plan for the restructuring of the metalworking complex. This will create a campus of excellence employing more than 1,300 people.
The renovation project will cover both the building’s exterior façades and the interior surfaces of around 20,000 square metres and will make it possible to unify the architectural style of the factory with that of the Manufacturing Plant inaugurated in 2018. The renovation work will be completed within the year.
MODO Eyewear, parent company to Italia Independent, announced the special partnership with Rita Ora for the music video of her latest hit “Ask and You Shall Receive”.
The global superstar fell in love with the whole Italia Independent collection.
Italia Independent is the exclusive eyewear brand for the video, directed by Dano Cerny, which is set in a nefarious 24-hour laundromat, and draws inspiration from the iconic 1985 Levi’s 501 commercial starring Nick Kamen.
Marcolin announced the appointment of Andrea Vincenzo Virgilio as new Group Operations Director who will report directly to CEO & General Manager Fabrizio Curci, taking responsibility for the Group’s production facilities, Research & Development, Product compliance and Supply Chain.
With a degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Palermo, Andrea Vincenzo Virgilio has gained significant experience over the years in operations in production, industrialisation, quality and lean manufacturing contexts at highly prestigious companies (Benetton, Lavazza Group, Luxottica and FCA).
The new Gucci Eyewear Fall Winter 2024-2025 campaign, signed by Sabato De Sarno, features a vibrant mosaic of unique personalities. Shot by photographer Mario Sorrenti, the campaign features images and videos that celebrate individuality and pay homage to authenticity in its purest form.
The well-known faces of Abbey Lee, George Barnett, Liya Kebede and He Cong appear in a series of captivating shots and videos, in which each of them tells their own unique story through the style of the glasses they wear.
Creative Director: Sabato De SarnoDirector: Samuel Rixon - Photographer: Mario Sorrenti - Stylist: Suzanne Koller - Makeup Artist: Lucia Pieroni - Hair Stylist: Duffy
Andrea Vincenzo Virgilio Operations Director
Gucci presented a new portrait of Jannik Sinner in Gucci Eyewear. Gucci continues to celebrate its bond with a sport deeply rooted in its heritage, harmoniously blending luxury and lifestyle. In line with this modern and timeless vision, the new shot features Jannik Sinner, number 1 in the ATP rankings and Global Brand Ambassador for the House. In the portrait, the tennis champion wears a pair of classic acetate sunglasses, reinterpreted with a contemporary touch that represents the essence of the brand.
bbase Design Group, an innovator in the eyewear industry, announced a three-year international licensing agreement with The Smiley® Company, the iconic brand synonymous with spreading positivity through viral lifestyle and fashion collaborations. With this partnership, bbase will design, produce, and distribute a diverse range of eyewear collections for Smiley®, SmileyWorld®, S.W. Smiley®, Mini Smiley® and Smiley® Future Positive across international markets. The collections will incorporate cutting-edge certified sustainable materials from the bow Index, highlighting a shared commitment to environmental responsibility.
In November, the Silhouette Group will be opening its first single-brand store: the House of Silhouette. The store, located in Vienna’s 1st district in a prestigious location at Herrengasse 1, is entirely dedicated to spectacles. Built on two floors, in a unique location, it offers customers the opportunity to experience the excellence Made in Austria and view all the collections under one roof of the group’s three eyewear brands: Silhouette, evil eye and NEUBAU EYEWEAR. Designer Peter Ippolito paid special attention to the themes of health and style. The interior was created by Umdasch Group. The ground floor is dominated by an installation with a wow effect: a 40-square-metre LED wall.
Oakley at the Olympics
Team Oakley athlete Josh Kerr took silver in the 1500 metres after an epic challenge at the Stade de France. In what was hailed as a historic race, the world champion secured a place on the podium with a time of 3.27.79, setting his new personal best. During the race, Kerr wore Oakley Sphaera Prizm 24K.
Photo Credit Anne-Christine Poujoulat AFP via Getty Images
Team Oakley athlete Eduarda ‘Duda’ Santos Lisboa shone under the Eiffel Tower by winning the Olympic gold medal in women’s beach volleyball. Pictured here proudly holding her gold medal with custom Oakley® 13.11s in an exclusive colour palette given only to Team Oakley Olympians to pay tribute to their incredible
Photo Credit Widen Production Getty Images
Team Oakley athlete Mutaz Essa Barshim won bronze after clearing 2.34 metres in the men’s high jump at the Paris 2024 Games. The reigning Olympic high jump champion competed wearing a customised Oakley® Radar EV Path in Team Qatar colours.
Photo Credit: Jacob Channel Getty Images
Team Oakley athlete Andre De Grasse and the Canadian men’s 4x100-metre relay team conquered the track with a time of 37.50 seconds. De Grasse ran the race wearing Oakley Sphaera with dual Iridium lenses, which are constructed with a wide field of vision that gives athletes the best view of the track.
Photo Credit Christian Petersen Getty Images
Eyewear at the Venice International Film Festival
Angelina Jolie in Valentino Eyewear by Akoni Group XXII frame
Miriam Leone wearing Fendi ‘s FF diamond model (Thélios - note that the LVMH group’s eyewear company was once again the official eyewear sponsor of the 81st edition of the Venice International Film Festival)
Getty Images Stefania D’Alessandro
Model Poppy Delevigne with the Celine Bold 3 Dots model (Thélios)
Getty Images Ernesto Ruscio
Actress Sigourney Weaver, this year’s recipient of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, with the Celine Bold 3 Dots model (Thélios)
Getty Images Stefania D’Alessandro
Alba Rohrwacher, who presented Maria together with Angelina Jolie and Pierfrancesco Favino, wears DiorSignature by Christian Dior (Thélios) Getty Images Victor Boyko
and actress Eva Herzigova wearing Etro (
) glasses Getty Images
and
Model
Safilo
British model
actress Amy Jackson wearing Eyewear by David Beckham (Safilo) Getty Images
Actress and model Laura Chiatti in mod. Unica by Carrera (Safilo)
Hong Kong Optical Fair 2024
Discover a World of Vision in the Optical Industry
The HKTDC Hong Kong International Optical Fair returns as this remarkable trade exhibition showcases visionary style and expertise, providing exhibitors with an unparalleled opportunity to connect with elite buyers from across the globe.
Building on the extraordinary achievements in 2023, with an impressive turnout of over 13,000 buyers from 92 countries and regions engaging with 700 exhibitors, the Fair is set to continue its tradition of delivering spectacular vision in the dynamic field of the optical industry.
The upcoming Fair will take place during 6-8 November 2024 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre
The Brand Name Gallery is a dedicated thematic section which exclusively highlights
stylish frames and eyewear with fashion or designer brands.
Other exhibit categories in the Fair include contact lenses & accessories, frames & parts, eyewear accessories, kids’ eyewear & accessories, lenses, reading glasses, smart eyewear, sporting & professional eyewear, diagnostic instruments, shopping fittings, optometric instruments, equipment and machinery and IT solutions for optical industry.
The fair is held under EXHIBITION+, a hybrid model together with the Click2Match smart business matching platform and the Scan2Match function, exhibitors and buyers from around the world can stay connected online before and after the physical fair.
LOFT San Francisco IS ON AGAIN!
Since 2000, the LOFT events have showcased the most exclusive and cutting edge designers from around the world
LOFT EYEWEAR SHOWS are the premier independent luxury eyewear events held annually in New York City and San Francisco.
LOFT will return to San Francisco this Fall and will once again be held at the Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture at Gallery 308.
This historic venue is set in the spectacular Northern Marina District of the city, just by Fishermans Wharf and features expansive views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Surrounded by parkland, the Fort Mason Center is a vibrant cultural hub located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Richard Mewha, founder of LOFT Eyewear Shows, is excited for the coming event, “We really love coming back to San Francisco. Fort Mason is always a spectacular venue. The views alone make this a very special event. We encourage vendors new and old to make this a must-see event on the eyewear show calendar. Change is in the air and intimate events like this are becoming much more preferable for many of our clients.”
This year’s San Francisco event will take place over the weekend of October 5-6 2024 and will be open from 11.00am8.00pm on Saturday and 9.00am - 6.00 pm on Sunday.
“Pioneering this event in San Francisco has always been a pleasure. There is a growing appetite for independent eyewear shows and this event is steadily growing in popularity.” said LOFT Marketing Director, Louis Fullagar. “On the back of the major announcement of our plans to remain in New York, we acknowledge our vendors and their customers are keen for shows like this that have a completely different and relaxed vibe to major conferencetype traditional events of the past”.
The ninth edition of Expo Ottica Sud Taormina 2024
From 19 to 21 October 2024, the PalaLumbi Centre in Taormina will once again be the meeting place for companies and professionals from the optics and optometry sector in Southern Italy.
Expo Ottica Sud is the result of great teamwork that has started from afar and strengthened one step at a time.
Thanks to the trust and passion of the exhibitors and visitors attending, since the first edition Expo Ottica Sud has catalysed the attention of major companies and the national specialised press, confirming the validity of the project at each appointment. The aim is to enable, as always, sector operators to view the most modern proposals and offers on the market, thus reaching their reference companies in a short time and in an easy and favourable context.
Participating first and foremost to meet again, to get to know the wide range on offer, to keep up to date, to develop a useful moment of aggregation, to feel fully part of the System and why not, enjoy the beauty of Taormina. The month of October reserves a still mild and temperate climate that beautifully highlights the colours and scents of an area that is a symbol of Sicily. A full programme of technical conferences
and company presentations will characterise all three days of the event.
Taormina is located in Sicily, exactly halfway between Catania and Messina. By plane one arrives at Catania airport and then from there by train, thanks to the new dedicated railway station adjacent to the airport, in the direction of Messina with a stop directly at the Giardini NaxosTaormina station. From here, shuttle buses will take you to the PalaLumbi, the venue of the event, in just a few minutes. From the exhibition centre it is possible to reach the village of Taormina in about 5 minutes with the continuous free shuttle services.
The appointment for those interested in the optics and optometry market in Southern Italy
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THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE ON OPTICS AND EYEWEAR
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