The prestigious Silmo d’Or Awards, organized by the Silmo Paris Optical Fair, announced this year’s winners. In this event, where the most innovative and creative products of the optical world are awarded, many brands stood out in different categories.

• The winner in the children’s category was Lafont. The French brand’s Roudoudou model attracted attention as the first pediatric eyewear model specially designed for premature babies.
• In the sports category, the award went to Out Of for its Acuity model. In the Vision category, Transitions Optical’s Transitions Gen S was awarded.
• In the Vision Optical System category, Accessolutions’ Voisee was awarded for its advanced visual aid technology for the visually impaired.
• In the Materials & Equipment category, Eyesoft, a French company that uses virtual reality and eye tracking to provide innovative visual inspection solutions, was recognized for its Check Lenscape & MicroUnit – Lona 5.
• In the Optical Frame – Brands & Labels category, the award went to Nina Ricci’s iconic design Snr403 couleur 7G6.
• In the Sunglasses – Brands & Labels category, Zilli won for its ZI65109 C01 frame with gold titanium details.
• In the category of Technological Innovation in Eyewear, OOmade was awarded for its OOmade Sav 3D software, which allows a broken frame to be repaired in front of the customer in a few minutes.
• In the category of Technological Innovation in Eyewear – Connected Products, EssilorLuxottica won with their artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses with Ray-Ban Meta avec IA.
• In the Optical Frame – Eyewear Designer category, Pierre Eyewear won the award with its My Lady model. Pierre Eyewear’s My Lady model reinterprets the elegance of the 70s with a decisive and modern touch.
• In the Sunglasses – Eyewear Designer category, Prodesign was awarded with the Censur model. Censur stood out with its structure that sets aside the rules and allows creativity to push the boundaries of traditional eyewear design.

This year’s Special Jury Award at the Silmo d’Or went to Parasite Design for its Morph Alpha model.

October 2024

Silhouette Group is set to enter the retail sector with the global debut of its first monobrand store, House of Silhouette, in November. The store, located in Vienna’s 1st district at Herrengasse 1, will be entirely dedicated to eyewear. Group’s Ceo and Cfo, Reinhard Mahr said: “Spread over two floors, it will offer customers the chance to experience Austrian-made excellence firsthand and explore, under one roof, the collections from the group’s three eyewear brands: Silhouette, evil eye, and neubau eyewear. More than just a monobrand store, it will provide an immersive experience into the Silhouette universe. Through comprehensive vision consultations, customers will be at the heart of the House of Silhouette, ensuring a personalized shopping experience designed to build loyalty.” For sixty years, the Austrian group has distributed its products through a select network of opticians and specialized retailers, and in recent years, Silhouette sunglasses have also been available online. Soon, in addition to these existing channels, the company will have its first physical store.

October 2024

Sea2see has announced its collaboration with Optiplus as the exclusive distributor of its eyewear collections in the Netherlands. Optiplus is a leading supplier of optical products headquartered in Leek, in the Province of Groningen in the northeast of the Netherlands. Optiplus has been sharing its expertise and passion for optics with Dutch customers for over 30 years. Commenting on the new relationship with Optiplus, François van den Abeele, Founder of Sea2see, said: “I am looking forward to growing our presence in the Netherlands with Optiplus, who have a lot of expertise in their local market.” The company showcased the Sea2see collections for the first time at the Bold Optical Fair, held on September 8-9, 2024. The Bold Optical Fair has been an event that has supported our development thanks to opticians’ progressive understanding of the need to adopt sustainable practices in the optical industry. We look forward to developing and expanding our relationship with local opticians in the Netherlands through this new relationship.”

October 2024

Germany-based acetate specialist eyewear brand Reiz presents two new models inspired by aesthetic beauty and timelessness. The Kronos and Hera models emerged from the birth of the Swabian premium manufacturer as monuments of durability, exceptional aesthetics and sculptural timelessness. Reiz has not exaggerated when designing the two god models it has added to the Monument collection. Inspired by the great heroes of Greek mythology, the brand has combined balanced dimensions and timeless design in its new models, named after Kronos, leader of the Titans and father of Zeus, and Hera, Zeus’ sister and wife. The two new German-made models attract attention with their convincing color spectrum. Available as both prescription and sunglasses, Kronos and Hera are each available in six limited edition colors. The colors range from solid colors to translucent colors and camouflage shades. Kronos and Hera stand out as monuments heralding the new era of Reiz.

October 2024

Ørgreen Optics has unveiled its latest collection of acetate eyewear, featuring three new models: Muse, Mystique, and Candy Cane Xs. Each of these pieces exemplifies the brand’s dedication to Scandinavian minimalism, while also embracing bold, distinctive colorways and intricate detailing. These new additions represent a fusion of timeless elegance and contemporary flair, pushing the boundaries of what modern eyewear can be. Crafted to the highest standards, these models offer exceptional comfort and a unique aesthetic appeal. Whether you’re drawn to the fashion-forward allure of Muse, the vintage-inspired charm of Mystique, or the playful sophistication of Candy Cane Xs, each frame is designed to cater to both trendsetters and classic eyewear enthusiasts. The translucent acetate frames, a signature of Ørgreen’s acetate collections, delicately reveal the bespoke core-wire detail, offering a glimpse into the meticulous craftsmanship at its core.

October 2024

The winner of the Optical Design competition 2024, organized by Silmo Paris Optical Fair for the last two years, has been announced. Chaired by renowned accessories designer Olivier Jault, who has worked for global fashion houses such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Repetto and Saint Laurent, the jury of optical and design professionals came together to evaluate projects from various design schools and select the most suitable ones. The theme of the Optical Design competition 2024 is the evolving role of accessory eyewear. Organized to encourage creative innovation in eyewear through the eyes of students from design schools around the world, this year’s winner was Distroal, designed by Thomas Deneufbourg and Adrien Gallois, students at Design Nantes Atlantique. Distroal, which means tranquilizer in Breton, is designed to support users with special needs, including people affected by disorders on the autism spectrum and anxiety disorders.

October 2024

Oakley has signed Diana Flores, Mexican national flag football player and global ambassador for the sport, to Team Oakley. From leading the Mexican National Team to numerous victories, to being named the Most Valuable Player at the 2022 World Games, Flores has had a major impact on the game of flag football. As the sport prepares to make its debut at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Flores will continue as a global ambassador for and advocate of the sport. Flores will wear Oakley’s cutting-edge performance eyewear including Oakley Sphaera, Radar EV Path, Hydra and more. She will join the roster of notable Team Oakley athletes from the likes of Justin Jefferson, Kylian Mbappé, Patrick Mahomes, Fred Kerley, Damian Lillard and more, the announcement said. Flores said, “Breaking boundaries as a Latina has always been my goal, and I’ve faced challenges where people said, you’re too small, you can’t do this. But I’ve learned that the power of ‘No!’ is the fuel for my journey. Joining Team Oakley represents not just my personal triumph but the opportunity to join forces with an iconic brand, while continuing to elevate the sport on a global stage and inspire others to go out there and chase their dreams.”

October 2024

Switzerland-based Nirvan Javan unveils its new The Eyes Must Travel campaign, showcasing the new Toronto and Tokyo collections in a stunning photo shoot in Japan. Inspired by the concept of Kodawari (the relentless pursuit of perfection), the Tokyo collection emphasizes minimalism and precision. The frames are displayed against the backdrop of Tokyo, a city where every little detail is carefully considered. On the other hand, Toronto’s cultural richness and vibrant diversity shaped the Shades of Toronto collection. The frames in the collection reflect the vibrant essence of the city with bold designs and striking colors. The campaign visuals reflect the dynamic energy, set in bustling market scenes where different cultures intertwine effortlessly. The campaign is not just a showcase of eyewear, but a narrative about how travel shapes creativity and perspective. Through these inspiring designs in The Eyes Must Travel campaign, Nirvan Javan invites you to see the world and perhaps discover our own journey through it.

October 2024

Madrid’s independent eyewear brand, Nina Mûr launched the new collection, Ecosystem. Inspired by diversity and inclusion, this fresh and colourful collection is born from an idea about the beauty of our differences and the power of the social ecosystem we all build together. Each model in the Ecosystem collection combines traditional craftsmanship with sustainable and innovative production techniques. The finishing of each pair of glasses and sunglasses has been achieved by meticulously hand-carving organic shapes into the plywood and then filling them with eco-friendly resins with a carefully curated colour palette created specifically for this line. This artisanal process gives each pair of glasses spontaneity and uniqueness, enriching the collection as a whole. In addition, Nina Mûr has also developed new innovative 3D-printed resin temples for these models. These temples, featuring an ergonomic and futuristic rounded design, give the glasses a particular, idiosyncratic style. Available in pastel colours, they are durable and light whilst offering a personalized fit for exceptional comfort, seamlessly blending style and functionality.

October 2024

Mykita and premium luggage brand Rimowa have announced a partnership that will begin operations in 2025. Both companies are German-engineered and specialize in delivering exceptional and long-lasting products along with meticulous craftsmanship, the announcement said. “Recognized for their distinct approaches to design, durability and commitment to innovation, the two brands will collaborate to advance their shared heritage in design and manufacturing,” the two companies said in a statement. Rimowa has been a global leader in premium luggage since 1898. The company was acquired by LVMH in 2017 and all its luggage is designed and manufactured in Germany. All Mykita glasses are also handmade at the Mykita Haus in Berlin. The collaboration is based on the quality of German-made products and is expected to be a hit on the market.

October 2024