DaTE, the international fair for avant-garde eyewear, will take place from Saturday 11th to Monday 13th September in Florence, at the Leopolda station. The event aims to be a strategic meeting opportunity, attracting companies which are known worldwide for their eyewear innovation and design, for their exclusive and selected products.
As the ninth edition of DaTE approaches, we have interviewed some of the key players. In this interview we meet Luca Gnecchi Ruscone, CEO and founder of L.G.R.
Shaping the avant-garde is the essence of DaTE. What form has your brand taken and how does it interpret the avant-garde?
For us, avant-garde means re-interpreting the past, adapting it to the present day with a modern contemporary look. Avant-garde means a careful choice of colours, creativity without exaggerating, respecting the innate L.G.R. style.
Materials are a key element of unique and original collections, while never neglecting the issue of sustainability. Which ones have you chosen for the DaTE 2021 collections?
We choose authenticity in our materials, opting for cellulose acetate by Mazzucchelli and Laes, and premium lenses by Barberini. All our suppliers are Italian, to support the national supply chain and, at the same time, make a sustainable choice by reducing CO2 emissions.
Exclusivity, transgression, design. These are all concepts that have distinguished DaTE since its creation. Which one is most characteristic of your brand, and why?
Definitely exclusivity, thanks to a B2B distribution to opticians who prefer unique items and want to stand out from their competitors, strongly embracing the L.G.R. values. How does the Italian market perceive strong design eyewear, which is focused on craftsmanship and high-tech quality? The Italian market is our prime reference in terms of sales and we have focused on Italy by opening three Flagship Stores in the heart of the main Italian cities (Milan, Rome and Florence), offering us the opportunity to have important contact with high-end foreign tourists.