Vecellio Occhiali to make Braccialini eyewear

Vecellio Occhiali is to produce and distribute Braccialini eyewear. The five-year license agreement between Braccialini and the Veneto-based company is for men's and women's sun and vision collections. A preview of the collection will be presented at Mido 2006, with the complete collection being shown in Paris in October.

Due in stores by Christmas, the new eyewear line will be sold in Italy and abroad through the Vecellio distribution network and through Braccialini mono-brand stores. The collection will be displayed in shops by Christmas.

This agreement is part of the announced expansion of the Braccialini product range. It is an important step that will strengthen a brand that, in addition to bags and small leather items, is already present with footwear, jewelry, watches and clothing accessories. 'An important step that will make even more of our brand's potential', stated Riccardo Braccialini, the Florence company's chief executive.

The five-year program envisages billings of 5 million euros. Braccialini has recently inaugurated 2 stores in Hong Kong, which brings the number of its monobrand stores to 16. The brand is soon to open in a very exclusive location in Paris.

Braccialini, which is part of Antichi Pellettieri, a leather-sector holding of the Mariella Burani Fashion Group, closed 2005 with record billings of 33 million euros and 50% growth.