Italian eyewear on Paris catwalk
A preview of the new collections for Spring-Summer 2004 in the splendid ballroom of the Italian Cultural Institute in Paris. This is how Italian eyewear companies are offering a preview today, and for the second consecutive year, of the finest products from Italy, which include 138 of the 301 world brands produced under license achieved as a result of a century-old artisan tradition combined with an unmistakable style of Italian fashion. Sector billings in 2002 were 1,859 million euros, 1,562 of which came from exports.
The fashion show will be preceded by a press conference at the Italian embassy, entitled 'Italian eyewear hot on the heels of emergent markets: results for the first six months of 2003 and the strategy for the future'. During the press conference, Cirillo Coffen Marcolin, President of Anfao (Italian association of manufacturers of optical products) and Mido, will tackle some very topical subjects such as the fight against counterfeiting, initiatives to protect the brands produced, and the provisions of the financial act; he will also present the next edition of Mido due to be held in Milan from May 7 through 9, 2004.
The fashion show is sponsored by the Italian embassy in Paris and organized by Ice (the Italian institute for the promotion of foreign trade), Paris, and by Anfao. The Hon. Vice Minister for Manufacturing businesses with responsibility for Foreign Trade, Mr Adolfo Urso, will be present at the event. The minister, who is actively involved in Made in Italy re-launch and safeguarding campaigns, was very enthusiastic about the project, which is oriented toward the promotion of one of the sectors of the Italian economy that are of worldwide importance.
'Eyewear is one of the leading Made in Italy sectors throughout the world', Urso stated, 'our presence in Paris confirms the Government's commitment to supporting the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises. A package has been put in place as part of the financial act', explained Urso, 'which provides for the creation of a symbol of origin, the setting up of legal assistance offices for companies at Ice headquarters and at the embassies throughout the world, and lastly more severe and effective regulations against counterfeiting, a malpractice which is increasing more than ever in the eyewear sector and in the sunglasses sector in particular. Innovation, infrastructures and internationalization, these are the tools we must use', the minister concluded, 'to defend and promote our talent throughout the world'.
Strolling up and down the runways will be a total of 150 styles of prescription eyewear, sunglasses and sports eyewear for men, women and children as well as precious eyewear cases, divided into six themes for the coming seasons. A unique opportunity for 39 companies, which will be at Silmo, the French eyewear exhibition tomorrow, to meet the press, buyers and trade, displaying an overview of their collections, from the world's leading brands to innovative styles or niche proposals from medium and small manufacturers.
The catwalks will feature great fashion names such as Gianfranco Ferré and Exté (Allison), Lancetti (Arlecchino), Verri (D'Arrigo), Fendi e Céline (De Rigo), Tonino Lamborghini (Demenego), Renato Balestra (IOVES), Bulgari and Ferragamo (Luxottica), Dolce & Gabbana and Montblanc (Marcolin), United Colors of Benetton and Krizia (Metzler), Kawasaki (Nico), Gattinoni and Mares (Olidei), I Coloniali (Polinelli), Giorgio Armani and Christian Dior (Safilo), Pal Zileri (Sichel & Sichel), Lotto (Sover), Mariella Burani (Trevi Coliseum), Trussardi and Laura Biagiotti (Visibilia), as well as many just-as-famous house brands such as Genesis (Area), Diva (Brillarte), Centrostyle (Centro Style), Danor (Danor), People (Di Esse), Dysma (Dysma), Custom (Fovs), Giulia Lozza (G5), Nouvelle Vague (Italian Style), Divinaefollie (Kàdor), Look (Look Occhiali), Domina (Lumen), Persol and Ray-Ban (Luxottica), Cébé (Marcolin), Red Rose (Metzler), Oceano (Mirage), Living (Martini Occhialeria), Rossini Hi Flex (Optigen), Viu-In (Optiwork), Champagne (Top Color), Exess (Mistral-Visard).
A special section has been dedicated to children, who will be on the catwalks with frames from Centrostyle (Centro Style), Ciao Ciao (Demenego), People Young (Di Esse), Lookkino (Look Occhiali), Popeye (Lumen), Marcolin Kids (Marcolin), Robe di Kappa (Metzler), Snoopy (Mg Vision), Vanni (Nico), Optigen, Carrera (Safilo), Lilliput (Trenti). As well as a small section reserved to cases, a must-have accessory to complete the look of eyewear wearers with the latest designs by Fedon and Gatto Astucci.
But for anyone who can't be present, starting on October 17th, the fashion show will be transmitted in a special section of our site dedicated to the event, where film and photos of all the eyewear presented can be seen.
