Safilo's 75th anniversary
The official ceremony to inaugurate the "Guglielmo Tabacchi" Gallery following the works carried out last year to expand and renew its exhibition space was held yesterday at the Padua Offices of the Safilo Group.
This great occasion was also the key event in the celebrations held for Safilo's 75th anniversary - a significant milestone, achieved through hard work and constant dedication. In fact, Safilo was established on 17 March 1934. Since then, the company has grown steadily to become the leading player in the international eyewear market today.
This key institutional moment has thrown the limelight onto the "Guglielmo Tabacchi" Gallery, that is, the most extensive and complete private collection of eyeglasses and objects connected to the eyewear sector. Vittorio Tabacchi is the CEO of the Safilo Group and this one-of-a-kind collection is the result of his boundless passion for glasses. The collection is broken down into different sections in order to "narrate" seven centuries of history for the accessory in question as well as to explore various historical, social, artistic, geographical, and cultural aspects and customs connected to it.
The Minister for Cultural Assets and Activities, Sandro Bondi, and the President of the Region of Veneto, Giancarlo Galan, were both at the inauguration. Their noteworthy presence further highlighted the prestige of this moment of celebration. Furthermore, an ample number of entrepreneurs, politicians and institutional players from the Region of Veneto also attended the event, underlining the key role that Safilo plays within the scope of the territory and its economy.
An event within an event: Bruno Vespa's new book, "Viaggio in un’Italia diversa" was presented for the first time in Padua in the presence of its author following the "ribbon cutting" ceremony. The presence of such an august parterre turned the occasion into an intense debate on the recent changes seen in Italy.
As Vittorio Tabacchi, CEO of the Safilo Group, stated, "My children - Massimiliano and Samantha - and I are very proud to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the company established by my father. The Gallery we are inaugurating today - following its expansion and renewal - is dedicated to him. This is a great achievement, which bears witness to the company's winning history. It is also a new starting point, from which to turn towards the future with renewed commitment and enthusiasm."
Samantha Tabacchi, Safilo's Director of Corporate Communications and Identity, continued, "I am thrilled to share this great passion I inherited with my father as it helps us safeguard our history, a priceless legacy of style, design and "Made in Italy" excellence. Thanks to the continual research my father carries out throughout the world, the Gallery reflects the natural evolution of a timeless product."
