THE EMOTION OF MEETING AGAIN Never would I have thought that after 40 years since my first optical and eyewear show, the idea of returning to the aisles of an industry event would arouse such a load of emotion and, let’s admit it, joy. This was really the mood with which I visited DaTE, the Florence showcase of design and research in the eyewear field, which bravely opened its doors even if in such a difficult moment. Obviously it was a different edition from the ones we were used to, but it showed how much the desire to “restart” is among both exhibitors and visitors. We’re not out of it yet, that’s for sure, Covid-19 is still breathing down our necks and forcing new behaviors and lack of close contact. The economic consequences of all this are really starting to be felt even though, and I don’t want to be too optimistic, I haven’t heard as many negative opinions and announcements of tragic results as I expected. Sunglasses collections certainly suffer more than ophthalmic lenses, opticians have many requests to change lenses and fewer to purchase new framesWe will never get back the two months we lost, and everyone in his or her profession has had to make choices, take new roads in a hurry, and look for solutions never dared before. But everything can also bring positive changes or interesting proposals. In the sector I see the birth of many initiatives, regardless of their success or otherwise, they are still new blood that only time will tell if they are valid or not. The situation gave us the boost we may need, and although we would have preferred to do it for a different reason, we each have to find our new path.
Isabella Morpurgo Publisher VEDERE International isabellamorpurgo@vedere.it
