Lights shine on made in Italy eyewear in Paris
Once again in 2005, for the fourth consecutive year, the Italian eyewear sector flies to Paris to present a preview of Spring-Summer 2006 collections.
With the participation of Italian Ambassador Ludovico Orfana, of the Ice President Umberto Vattanti and of Anfao President Cirillo Marcolin, this morning at the Automobile Club de France, Place de la Concorde, in the heart of Paris, over 100 styles of sunglasses and frames (all shown in our Special) were presented during the catwalks, a true tribute to Italian production, which has always played a dominant role in the global eyewear industry.
'The Paris event has by now become a well-established appointment in our program of promotional activities at the international level, much anticipated by our companies, who take part in it in consistently increasing numbers', said Cirillo Marcolin. 'This year, as many as 48 companies are taking part, putting on show 110 models of eyewear and cases: a record which proves how the path we set out along rather shyly so many years ago, has now become an effective and shared promotion model to present a preview of new products for 2006. My only regret', Marcolin added, is that the Vice Minister of Production Activities, right honorable Adolfo Urso, has not been able to join us as he did in past years, due to unforeseen institutional duties. In any case, to testify to his commitment, the Vice Minister has sent us a message in support of the Paris initiative, with many interesting reflections on our sector. We extend to him all the respect of our companies and a sincere thank you for the attention he has always given us'.
During the press conference, Anfao also presented its first-half data, that show encouraging results. 'The growth achieved in the first six months of 2005', Adolfo Urso wrote in is note to Cirillo Marcolin, 'is also the result of hard work and sheer determination. This is one of the few sectors which has been able to react to the recession, identifying an efficient promotional model and making efforts to re-launch its production worldwide. Since 2002, numerous fashion shows and trade collectives have been organized, in locations ranging from Paris to Moscow, and from New York to Shanghai, for the first time last year. The economic trend in 2005 therefore seems to hold great promise, and should provide a real boost to keeping up the pro-active promotion of the sector's production abroad'.
Cirillo Marcolin, commenting first-half results, stated: 'While it is as yet too early to speak of a recovery, we are certainly on the right track towards winning back market shares lost in recent years, and to bolstering our leadership at the international level in the mid-to-upper end of the market'.
Excellence in production, quality, innovation. And most importantly, fashion. These are the key words for Italian eyewear in Paris.
