Over the course of this year more than 350 opticians will come to Agordo, in the Belluno Dolomite mountains, for encounter with the Blackfin Experience. In an invitation to its clients to discover where and how its titanium eyewear are produced, Blackfin opens the doors of the Black Shelter – its CasaClima Work&Life-certified sustainable headquarters – completed in 2021 as part of the company’s 50th anniversary festivities. Inaugurated in 2022, the program is moving ahead in a more structured manner through visits that involve about 15-20 opticians at a time from key European markets, like Germany, Italy, France, Austria and the Nordic countries. Nicola Del Din, Blackfin Ceo, explains the experience “The aim is to tell the story of Blackfin’s history and production process. For the most part, we are inviting well-established opticians but are quite happy to introduce ourselves to prospective clients as well. No matter how often we tell our story and portray our product digitally and in photographs, seeing with their own eyes the place where our frames are designed and produced allows people to fully appreciate the authentic value of our eyewear. We hope to provide the opticians with an all-encompassing experience, by the end of which they become not only our friends but real brand ambassadors for us with their customers.”

July 2023

Vanni, Italy-based independent eyewear brand, has teamed up with journalist and lifestyle coach Francesca Senette to create an exclusive limited edition capsule sunglasses collection. The result of this collaboration, the Colours collection includes two new models, Cornflower and Iris. The capsule was launched at Viasaterna, a contemporary art gallery in Milan. As a brand that has always had strong ties with the art world, Vanni chose a special launch venue. A commitment cultivated for more than a decade thanks to the international Autofocus competition, which has rewarded more than 40 young artists since 2009, and which is now realized by bringing artistic content inside eyewear and thanks to the collaboration with Artissima, the international contemporary art fair in Turin where the artists of the future are discovered. A special yoga class is provided as a gift for the capsule launch, which can be followed on social media or on the website.

July 2023

The products in the 2023 collection of Southern California-based Oakley stand out with their designs and features that enhance sports performance. Oakley’s Prizm technology visibly enhances details with ultra-precise color adjustment technology that aims to eliminate distractions. Oakley’s new model Actuator, designed for daily running, provides stronger protection with its universal frame size and enlarged lenses. Thanks to Actuator, no matter what the sporting activity, the glasses never slip out of place thanks to its design. Actuator also enhances the color, contrast and details of every environment with its impressive seven color options and different Prizm lens technology opportunities. Oakley Corridor, which is indispensable for running, is designed to provide less mobility and more comfort on the eye. Designed to allow you to focus only on the run with the feeling of having no eyes during the run, the model draws attention with its aesthetic design as well as its groundbreaking functions.

July 2023

Thélios unveiled its new visual identity last week during its 2023 Convention in Rome, where the LVMH eyewear producer was presenting the 2023 collections from its Maisons including Dior, Fendi, Celine, Loewe, Givenchy, Stella McCartney, Kenzo and Fred. In a statement, Thélios said, “Born in 2017 from LVMH’s desire to make eyewear an essential element of the Houses’ collections, Thélios entered a new phase of its development and aimed to mark this moment through a redesign of its brand identity. The new identity has been meticulously crafted to express the values and raison d’être of Thélios: to pioneer a new experience in luxury eyewear, raising the standards of the industry.” This new development begins with the introduction of a new logo, which includes the baseline “LVMH Eyewear Excellence” as a key element. The logo is minimalist but substantial, with the “o” designed to symbolize an eye and the sun, which is a nod to the origin of the name Thélios, derived from Theia, goddess of light and vision, and Helios, god of sun. In addition, the rounded “o” aims to reference the “complete cycle of its value chain going from creation, through production to distribution,” Thélios said. The accent above the “e” has also been simplified to an elegant horizontal line.

July 2023

Synergy Xtra, developed for presbyopes by Seiko, the leading optical brand that makes a difference in the world with its vision technologies, offers a wider near, intermediate and distance field of vision by providing high-level correction compared to standard progressive lenses. Created in line with personal prescription values, Seiko Synergy Xtra offers the best daily performance. Synergy Xtra, which can adapt to a wide range of frame models, offers a comfortable vision performance in many daily routines such as business, reading and hobbies. Synergy Xtra, which perfectly adapts to the field of vision, gives the user the feeling of walking around without glasses with its high-end technology. Providing 40 percent reduced distortion compared to standard progressive lenses, Synergy Xtra provides fast and instant adaptation.

July 2023

The Italian eyewear producer Marcolin has presented a new editorial project with the launch of its own online brand magazine, Marcolin Stories. With the magazine, available on the Company’s website, readers can step into the Marcolin universe through news, insights and curiosities related to the fashion and luxury industry, as well as ESG issues (Environment, Social, Governance), stories of people, interviews and travel notes, all seen from a lifestyle standpoint, they explain. The content has been arranged in four categories. The aim is for the company to develop its own language, aesthetic codes, storytelling, and high-quality expressive contents to further engage the brand’s community of enthusiasts, customers and stakeholders. Visibility, awareness of its heritage and international reputation are the key focus of the new project, which aims to create a distinctive narrative voice within the eyewear industry. Clara Magnanini, Marcolin Group Communication Director, comments: “Marcolin is a company with a huge narrative potential, as it feeds on an ecosystem of worlds. In this corporate multidimensionality, we have implemented a brand journalism approach that aims to open the doors of our company, show ourselves and build a new relationship with stakeholders based on trust and loyalty.”

July 2023

Etnia Barcelona celebrates its 20th anniversary by expanding its Heritage Collection with new models, launches Wild Love in Africa collection. The Zebra, new campaign of Spanish brand, attracts attention with its powerful and expressive images. Zebra is not only an homage to the beauty of African wildlife, but also to the philosophy of Etnia Barcelona. The new collection has features, which are celebrating Africa’s rich culture, traditions, and vibrant colors. The new models of the Heritage Collection were inspired by unique textures that were influenced by the landscapes of the African continent. Pop-art-inspired acetate shapes that recreate the patterns of “animal print” in vibrant colors like bubblegum pink, orange, fluorescent green, black, or white have been added to the collection. The three models made from Mazzucchelli’s natural acetate are 7mm thick and have 3D indentations that give the glasses a relief effect and increase wearing comfort. The collection’s models are equipped with mineral lenses with HD color technology that offer a unique viewing experience. The new models are showcased in the Zebra campaign. Etnia Barcelona hired Moroccan-born, Belgium-based photographer Mous Lamrabat for the campaign, emphasizing their connection to art and culture. Mous’ work in Zebra celebrates Moroccan culture.

July 2023

French Morel presents Valerien, a new eyewear model made from 100% recycled acetate in collaboration with local partner Decoracet. Morel has been investing in and collaborating with a specific recycled acetate process since 2014 in order to adopt a virtuous local approach within a circular economy. The renowned French brand is working with a local partner, Decoracet, a French acetate producer with unique recycling know-how, to recycle leftovers from acetate frame production. Decoracet supplies Morel with new acetate sheets produced by thermo-compression using granules derived from acetate residues. As a product of this partnership, Valerien is also made from 100% locally produced recycled acetate. The concept reimagines Morel’s iconic Tydée design to develop acetate temples. Valerien offers a variety of colors and finishes, with beautiful tones and subtle plays of transparency that give character to each frame.

July 2023

Safilo Group and American lifestyle brand Kate Spade New York announced the early renewal of their global eyewear licensing agreement for the exclusive design, manufacturing and distribution of Kate Spade New York branded optical frames, readers and sunglasses for women, as well as optical frames for girls. Safilo Group has held this license since 2000. Angelo Trocchia, Ceo of Safilo Group, said, “We are extremely pleased to announce the early renewal of the Kate Spade New York eyewear license which gives continuity to the long-standing and successful 23-year collaboration and partnership between Safilo and Kate Spade New York. Kate Spade New York is an industry-leading lifestyle brand with a successful eyewear story, which is today fully embedded in Safilo’s portfolio strategy. Liz Fraser, Ceo and Brand President of Kate Spade New York, said, “We are thrilled to continue our long-term partnership with Safilo for Kate Spade New York eyewear. As a brand, we work to deliver products that help people around the world express their unique sense of style and spark joy. By renewing our Safilo partnership, given their expertise in the eyewear market, we look forward to continuing to provide our customers with exciting and innovative eyewear choices.”

July 2023

Developed with Seiko Optics technology, Seiko I Xceed reflects the precision and meticulous care demanded by eyewear wearers looking for the very best. Seiko I Xceed is ideal for wearers of single vision lenses, offering a unique, personalized vision. Seiko I Xceed provides maximum visual sharpness and contrast all the way to the edges, even with high cylinders and prismatic prescriptions, while offering unparalleled viewing comfort. Featuring a patented 360° internal aspheric and asymmetric design created with Seiko Digital Surfacing, Seiko I Xceed takes into account the wearer’s spectacle wearing pattern, habits and lifestyle (desired wears for all distances), resulting in lenses that offer unique, personalized design.

July 2023