Swiss Eyewear Group, owners of Invu sunglasses, are to launch Ekkiu, an eyewear collection for fashion-forward customers and particularly Generation Z. Rooted in an Italian Generation Z slang word that means “more and more”, Ekkiu stands for “more fashion, more quality and more fun”. The new collection is designed and engineered in Switzerland and crafted in handmade, environmentally friendly acetate. With the addition of high end Tritan lenses from Eastman, Ekkiu is offering not just high fashion, but also state of the art optics and superior clarity, the company explains. Ekkiu sunglasses feature a touch of retro inspiration with a modern twist. Acetate frame colours, combined with matching colored lenses elevate the look and capture the essence of “zoomers’ bold and vibrant lifestyle”. The new eyewear collection will make its debut at Mido and be available for purchase starting early March, with Italy and Greece being the initial launch markets.

February 2024

Italian eyewear maker Safilo Group announced it was ending a licensing agreement with top fashion influencer Chiara Ferragni, who has come under fire for misleading advertising on charity initiatives. The multi-year deal for the design, production, and distribution of Chiara Ferragni-branded glasses was interrupted “following the violation of contractual commitments undertaken by the brand owner,” Safilo said in a statement. The influencer was sanctioned as the regulator found that consumers had been duped into thinking that by buying a Ferragni-branded Christmas cake they were contributing to charity for a children’s hospital. AGCM said that Ferragni was paid 1 million euros for the branding initiative, but gave no money to the hospital, which received a fixed-sum donation of 50,000 euros from the cake-maker, not linked to sales. Ferragni, one of the world’s most famous fashion influencers with nearly 30 million followers on Instagram, has been pilloried over the affair, with criticism coming even from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

February 2024

Safilo Group announced the early renewal, of their global licensing agreement for Moschino and Love Moschino eyewear collections, until December 2033. Angelo Trocchia, Ceo of Safilo Group said: “We are very proud to renew our partnership with Moschino, an iconic brand that has always represented a strong asset for our women’s eyewear segment. We started our partnership with Moschino in 2018 and we are thrilled to make a step further in locking another fruitful collaboration for the long term.” Massimo Ferretti, Aeffe S.p.A. Executive Chairman Massimo Ferretti commented: “Over the past few years, Safilo has demonstrated to be an incredible business partner, along with a top leader in the eyewear industry. We are happy to continue working at this project for the Moschino and Love Moschino brands with a company sharing with us the same core values, including unparalleled attention to creativity and quality.”

February 2024

The two companies announce the early renewal of their global licensing agreement for the Boss and Hugo eyewear collections, until December 2030. Safilo has constantly supported the growth of the two brands in the eyewear category with high standards of quality, cutting-edge design, a distinctive selling proposition and a robust distribution network spanning all regions. Both brands represent a point of reference in the eyewear landscape, catering to a diverse consumer base that recognizes the undisputed uniqueness of the eyewear collections. Angelo Trocchia, Ceo of Safilo Group, said: “We are delighted to early renew our partnership with Hugo Boss, a highly valued partner for Safilo, and representing an exceptional asset in our portfolio. I am glad that in just a few years we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of our partnership which began back in 2006. The remarkable rebranding of Boss and Hugo in the last two years, fully embraced and executed by Safilo in the eyewear collections, paves the way for a bright and successful future of the brands in all our markets and distribution channels.”

February 2024

Sabrinarégéturo Eyewear, the French green luxury brand founded by Sabrina Régé Turo, Owner of Key Optical Europe, presents the new 2024 optical and sunglasses collection, made in Italy with premium eco-sustainable Mazzuchelli 1849 acetate. The collection embodies the trend of quiet luxury with an aesthetic free of any pretentiousness, focusing on a discreet and elegant design without excessive color or loud logos. The air of quiet luxury comes to the fore in classic shapes such as the optical style Nibe, available in green, brown Havana or very classic black, and the gold pins and metal tip decor of the style Sabro, a vintage-inspired shape in warm colors of beige, green and elegant black. A geometric design that spans the seasons, the Oder model is inspired by Saharan desert sand and is crafted in beige and available in green and black. The optical frame Thuro is characterized by strong lines for a basic yet refined look in burgundy, black and Havana brown. The acetate becomes sculptural at the top of the Ray style with laminated transparent effects in red, green and black.

February 2024

Rigards and Uma Wang reunited and collaborated again. Rigards and Uma Wang were inspired by exotic Buddhist art for the model UW14, which stands out in the joint collection, and were also influenced by the supernatural figures in the Mogao Caves, such as flying apsaras, swirling draperies and flowing sashes. All the details of the UW14 model emphasize the organic lines of the eyeglass bridge, which not only transforms into an eyeglass necklace, but also looks like pseudo-rope chain earrings. To achieve this earring look, two detachable chains have been added that can be attached to the model. To complement the distilled silhouette of the frame, strong but light titanium is used to create a lithe and elegant structure. The colors of the four available metals are fully restrained in delicate matte finishes. Rigards has collaborated with Uma Wang on numerous collections in a variety of materials including stainless steel, natural stone inserts, titanium, aluminum and wood. The two brands have developed a synergy that consistently produces one-of-a-kind, natural eyewear designs with a remarkable look, color and finish.

February 2024

The Opti fair, which took place in Munich between January 12-14, successfully completed its 2024 edition with a total of 21,500 visitors. Visitors attended the three-day trade show from 70 countries to see almost 390 exhibitors from 28 countries representing the entire optical supply chain. Cathleen Kabashi, Head of Opti, said, “Opti continues on its successful course. The feedback from visitors and exhibitors in many conversations confirmed that our trade show concept is absolutely right. Close cooperation and the development of a joint concept with all trade show stakeholders over the course of the last year were crucial to the event’s success.” Dieter Dohr, chair of the Management Board of GHM, which organizes Opti, commented, “The atmosphere was incredible, the joy of the industry was palpable. Opti serves as a compass for the industry in Germany, Austria and Switzerland when designing its product range and provides orientation for the business year as a whole. During this January weekend, opti reaped the success it has sown over the past 12 months through dialogue with the industry, roundtables, listening and joint development.” Opti will return to Munich next year, scheduled for Jan. 31 through Feb. 2, 2025.

February 2024

The Oakley 2024 Lunar New Year Collection, celebrates the rich tradition of welcoming the good and the new in Chinese culture Drawing inspiration from the powerful spirit of the Wood Dragon, the Chinese Zodiac of 2024, the collection encourages wearers to depart from tradition and boldly embrace the future. The four-piece 2024 Lunar New Year Collection reimagines two iconic eyewear styles, Holbrook® and Sutro, each outfitted with fiery Prizm™ 24K lenses and a custom microbag adorned with a hand-drawn dragon logo print. The styles feature a captivating geometrical pattern on their stems, symbolizing lunar shadows and moon phases derived from the lunar calendar, and a distinctive Lunar Dragon logo adorning the lens. The collection is complete with Line Miner™ Goggles with Prizm™ Snow Torch, also equipped with the signature geometrical pattern on the strap, and MOD1 helmet, with hand-drawn dragon logos on the temples.

February 2024

Modo introduces its latest eyewear collection, which is a celebration of fearless fashion, contemporary design, and the perfect fusion of boldness and lightness. Crafted with precision, this collection pushes the boundaries of eyewear aesthetics, seamlessly blending cutting-edge materials and vibrant design elements. Modo’s commitment to innovation shines through in the seamless integration of beta titanium, ensuring that each pair of eyeglasses exudes a sense of sophistication and comfort. Fearlessly fluorescent hues take center stage, bringing a dynamic energy to each pair. The semi-transparent frames showcase a meticulously curated palette of vivid acetate colors, ensuring that each frame becomes a statement piece. Modo steps into the future with eyewear that reflects the spirit of contemporary fashion with its light, bold and unique designs.

February 2024

Eyewear producer Marcolin and Italian new luxury brand Gcds announce the early renewal of the exclusive global licensing agreement for the design, manufacturing and distribution of the brand’s sunglasses and optical frames. The partnership between Marcolin and Gcds started in 2019, when the brand founded in 2015 thanks to the vision of brothers Giuliano and Giordano Calza decided to enter the world of eyewear, thus broadening its accessories range. The collections designed by Marcolin reflect Gcds distinctive aesthetic codes, characterized by irony, experimentation and street style. In the eyewear offered, great attention to detail and impeccable quality blend together with sporty lines, technical materials and a vibrant color palette. Unique and modern shapes alternate with sporty-inspired oversize shield designs enhanced by the brand’s logo presented in a maxi version. The new agreement extends the synergy and the existing relationship between the two companies until 31st December 2028.

February 2024