Red Bull has signed a three-year agreement with Hawaiian sunglasses and eyewear brand Maui Jim, which has been owned by Kering Eyewear since 2022. This collaboration spans various initiatives including immersive events and dynamic content. Kering Eyewear noted, “The partnership aims to blend the precision and clarity of Maui Jim’s high-performance sunglasses with the energy and excitement that Red Bull brings to action sports and entertainment. With a focus on the dynamic worlds of skateboarding and watersports, enthusiasts can anticipate the co-creation of events that seamlessly blend the realms of sports, adventure and eyewear innovation.”  Upcoming Red Bull events include Boarding Pass; Terminal Takeover, the New Orleans skateboarding competition; Magnitude, the surfing championships in Hawaii; Cope ‘n’ waken in Copenhagen; King of the Air kitesurfing; Conquest skateboarding event in Buenos Aires; and Pool Attendant skateboarding tournament in Munich.

March 2024

Eyewear producer Marcolin and international luxury menswear leader Zegna have announced the renewal of the exclusive global licensing agreement for the design, manufacturing and distribution of Zegna sunglasses and optical frames. The new agreement includes an automatic renewal clause until 31st December, 2030, further strengthening the partnership between the two companies, which dates back to 2015. Marcolin Ceo & General Manager Fabrizio Curci remarked, “The philosophies of Marcolin and Zegna are based on the same passion for quality and beautiful things done well. This agreement is a source of pride for us and further strengthens the well-established relationship between the two companies, both in terms of designing and developing the eyewear collections, and in terms of business. We are very glad and honored to continue to work alongside Gildo Zegna and his Team”. Ermenegildo Zegna Group Chairman and Ceo Gildo Zegna added, “Made in Italy has always been at the heart of our brand’s Dna and this is a common value we share with Marcolin, together with our shared passion for excellence. This renewed partnership remarks the importance of eyewear as one of the leading licensing categories for Zegna.”

March 2024

Marcolin has joined Fondazione Altagamma, which has been gathering the best Italian cultural and creative enterprises since 1992. Marcolin will be the only Altagamma member from the eyewear industry and will join the other 115 member companies, which include brands operating in a variety of sectors, such as fashion, design, jewelry, food, hospitality, automotive, yachts. Together, they account for over 10,000 years of history, with an average company lifespan of 90 years. Altagamma’s mission is to promote the competitiveness of its Members, while contributing to the country’s economic growth. The Foundation gathers brands recognized globally as ambassadors of our lifestyle and – in line with other European associations – promotes one of the key industries both in Italy and Europe. The high-end industry is a symbol of its values and of its manufacturing excellence worldwide, as well as a sector where Italy is recognized as an undisputed leader internationally. The global luxury industry accounts for approximately 1500 billion euros and, according to Altagamma, is destined to continue to grow over the next years, regardless of economic uncertainty.

March 2024

L.g.r and Cupra reunite for their second collaboration to unveil their new sunglasses collection. This latest collaboration combines the unique design perspective of both brands, resulting in a trio of sunglasses that make a statement with their contemporary style, cutting-edge innovation, and boldness. L.g.r x Cupra presents three models, which are called as Tribe, Reunion Metal Explorer, and Nomad II. The designs have been created by taking inspiration from the exclusive colours of the bodywork and details of Cupra cars, such as the Tech Magnetic, Green Plasma and Copper Matt colours. Model Tribe has been designed as “the ideal companion for any occasion”. Exuding a sophisticated yet daring aesthetic with its double bridge aviator design crafted from lightweight metal, the glasses seamlessly blend style and comfort. Model Reunion Metal Explorer is a new iteration of the iconic Reunion model by L.g.r, a modern take on the timeless aviator. Boasting a fusion of lightweight metal and cellulose acetate, it offers a perfect balance between style and utility. Nomad II – with its hexagonal metal frame, thin temples, metal brow bridge, and hand-polished acetate rims represents a bold and contemporary evolution of the iconic aviator design.

March 2024

Ignite the new year with the January collection by ic! berlin and see the world with your own eyes. Elevating classic design to new heights, the ic! berlin eyewear ensemble seamlessly intertwines with a touch of their history, resulting in a collection that transcends the ordinary. Embodying an enduring understated elegance, these frames stand the test of time. Meticulously crafted facets add dimension to Nuno and Tilmann creating a subtle statement without the need for words. Nuno is a Trapeze shaped frame from the Classic collection made of Metal. Tilmann is a Square shaped frame from the Classic collection made of Metal. Meanwhile, Erin, Elliot, and Wilhelm draw inspiration from models in their family and heighten their design language with a contemporary flare. Erin is a Cat Eye shaped frame from the Classic collection made of Acetate. Elliot is a Aviator shaped frame from the Classic collection made of Hybrid.

March 2024

Face a Face presents four new models from the Japan Now! collection. The Haori, Carar, Reeds and Matics models tell a story and are inspired by a completely new color palette. A new season for the Japanese adventure! The Face a Face designers continue their artistic journey to the heart of contemporary Japanese design with Shiro Kuramata, Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo, and others. They are all designers whose work combines delicacy with a disruptive aesthetic – a fascinating contrast that permeates the vision of the Japan Now! collection. From the meeting between the breadth and precision of Haori to the cutting of the raw material in Carar, via the poetry of Reeds or the ‘how to turn technique into aesthetics’ with Matics, every one of these creative designs tells the story of this journey from nature to culture. A new palette inspired by Japanese gardens permeates and enhances the curves of the models in this new collection: from blue greens to indigo blue, via yuzu green and even “Viva Magenta” purple reds with touches of azalea pink.

March 2024

EssilorLuxottica and Michael Kors have announced the renewal of their licensing agreement for the development, production and worldwide distribution of prescription frames and sunglasses under the Michael Kors brand. This renewal will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2025 and cover a period of five years, with an option for a five-year extension. This early renewal, coming almost a year before the expiration of the current agreement, is reflective of the strong collaboration between the two companies since 2015. Francesco Milleri, Chairman and Ceo of EssilorLuxottica, said, “We are really proud of the work we’ve done with Michael Kors over the past decade. In the years ahead, we’ll continue to innovate together with designs that reflect the brand’s innate sense of modern glamour and its unfailing eye for effortless chic.” Cedric Wilmotte, Ceo of Michael Kors, said, “Together, we have grown Michael Kors eyewear into a global business at the leading edge of fashion eyewear while continuing to celebrate the brand’s long and distinctive heritage. We share EssilorLuxottica’s commitment to design, innovation and quality, and look forward to continuing our close collaboration in the years ahead.”

March 2024

Cutler and Gross unveils the Spring/Summer 2024 Desert Playground line, featuring a selection of 8 bold designs, including 7 optical glasses and 5 sunglasses. This collection seamlessly blends traditional and modern shapes, drawing inspiration from the striking architecture of Palm Springs celebrating the radiant and glamorous era bathed in sunlight. Each style reflects the cinematic grandeur of 50s Hollywood and draw inspiration from the Modernist architecture of this bygone era, frozen in time by Julius Shulman’s photography. Inspired by the winged frames popularized on the silver screen during the 1950s and 60s, the 1409 model features a curved brown bar and flattened edges, offering a refreshing twist on a classic style. Drawing from the geometric precision of mid-century modernist architecture, the 1410 optical frames boast a striking square structure. Embodying the angular elegance of 1960s cinema, the 1411 frames feature a straight brow bar and slanted lugs, evoking a gender-neutral cat-eye aesthetic. The maximalist sunglass design of the 9324 draws inspiration from the octagonal allure reminiscent of iconic Hollywood figure Sophia Loren in the 1950s.

March 2024

Blackfin introduces AirGlass, the revolutionary Barberini polarized lens in ultra-thin glass that redefines the balance between weight and optical quality. The two Italian companies have combined their expertise to introduce a design product that pushes beyond the limits of weight, achieving the perfect balance between lightness and quality. Weighing just 9 grams more than the corresponding plastic lenses, the new Blackfin AirGlass are a distillation of artisan mastery and innovation. Blackfin Ceo Nicola Del Din stated: “Blackfin is extremely proud of its partnership with Barberini, global leader in the mineral glass lens sector. Titanium is well-known for its excellent qualities, including its light weight; glass is the material that ensures optimum optical performance but is typically perceived as heavy. Both Blackfin and Barberini have set themselves apart in terms of state-of-the-art processing of these two materials. By combining our respective skill sets, we aim to show that it is possible to offer a new visual experience in a product of excellence that is surprisingly lightweight.”

March 2024

Barton Perreira, the premium eyewear brand founded by Bill Barton and Patty Perreira, has presented its new collection for the Spring/Summer 2024 season. The new models presented by Barton Perreira perfectly match the design Dna of the American luxury brand. The new models, Snow White and Rose Red, are a tribute to high-end eyewear design and once again testify to the dedication and skill of designer Patty Perreira. The iconic models are characterized by their curved accents and polished contours. The carefully chosen colors show that nature is the source of inspiration. Barton Perreira demonstrates its generalist expertise when it comes to shapes and materials. From acetate to titanium, from bold frames to frameless, from simple design to fashion statement, all the models in the new collection are characterized by fine, refined details and high-quality craftsmanship.

March 2024