Happy birthday Mido!

This year MIDO will celebrate its first 40 years. An old wives' tale claims that turning 40 means taking time to take stock. And in this case the bottom line can only be positive: the evolution of these four decades has brought this fair to the point of overshadowing all the other eyewear fairs recognised worldwide. In fact, the origins of MIDO can be traced back to before 1970: the first International Eyewear Show, which was then dubbed MIDO later, took place in Milan from May 28 until June 1, 1967. Further back in time, there was another dedicated fair in 1913, when an industrial pioneer, the ‘Cavaliere del Lavoro’ Giuseppe Ratti organised what was considered to be the forerunner of MIDO in Torino.
Over the years, the the International Optics, Optometry and Ophthalmology Exhibition has grown in the number of exhibitors – from the initial hundred or so to more then one thousand currently – and in worldwide renown.

The official rounded-figure of 40 years of MIDO, in addition to being a moment of reflection, is also the perfect opportunity to celebrate in the best way possible. Therefore, everyone is invited on the evening of Saturday, March 6 to Pavilion 24 that will remain open until 10 pm with an open bar, just for this special occasion. Visitors may also retrace the long - and sometimes rocky - path of eyewear, always pioneering new ideas, innovative inventions, courageous initiatives, but never haphazardly, through a photographic exhibition with historic images borrowed from the historical archives of the Fondazione Fiera Milano and the photographic archive of Fiera Milano. These photographs recall the various editions of MIDO and bring to mind, year after year, the evolution of the eyewear production that has always shown its worldwide excellence as well as its penchant for experimentation and the creative talent of its protagonists.

All there is left to do is confirm our appointment for Saturday, March 6, at Pav.24, from 7 until 10pm, for a toast that promises to hold many surprises. Everything and everyone is ready to blow out MIDO’s 40 candles!