The Italian Job

By Nicky Collinson, editor

The organisers of Mido in Milan proclaimed “a new era” for the show after closing the doors on its 51st edition last month. We take a look at some stand-out eyewear launched at the show, which attracted a record 35,000 visitors and 1,000 exhibitors from across the globe...

Smart Specs Raise Their Game

Swedish smart tech firm Skugga returned with a big gaming screen so visitors could get interactive with its smart glasses. Skugga’s patented miniature smart technology is integrated in, and will fit, a wide variety of eyewear brands. The frames are connected with Skugga’s software to harness a variety of smart features such as monitoring body movements, activity and external surroundings. Skugga is currently developing new versions of the smart module, enabling it to be embedded in even more frame styles.

CAPSULE WITH A CAPITAL ‘C’

A new capsule Roberto Cavalli eyewear collection was previewed by De Rigo and includes model SRC011S – a mask sunglasses style with a metal structure shaped in the brand’s iconic ‘C’ logo. The logo is enriched with 640 hand-set crystals. The slender sides feature the Roberto Cavalli logo lettering, while the end tips are embossed with an ‘RC’ monogram. The style is available with a single rose gold mirrored lens and in a dark grey option, with matching packaging which can also be used as a pochette.

SLOW STYLES INSPIRED BY NATURE

‘Slow eyewear’ is how Swiss eyewear architects at Götti describe their new Bionic collection. Inspired by nature, the customisable frames are 3D printed from a single material based on the seeds of the sustainable castor bean plant. The bio-based polyamide offers great flexibility, while a new hinge inspired by human ball-and-socket joints has been developed – hence the name Bionic. The eyewear is pared down to the front piece and sides, with no additional screws or other aids used for the hinge. Also Swissmade and developed by Götti is the simple kraft paper packaging and innovative glasses case. There are four styles available in ash, sand, teal and blush.

LIGHT, MINIMAL AND LUMINOUS

Influenced by the world of interiors, design and fashion, Italian brand Tree Spectacles studied some unique and subtle colour pairings to bring its new acetate Translucency collection to life –with tones like matte sage green, light matte pink and light matte nude. The light effects and luminosity of the transparent crystal colours on the fronts are combined with a minimal, contemporary matte colour palette on the sides. The collection includes three new shapes –Tosca, Vania and Virna – each featuring Tree Spectacles’ renowned bevelled style.

LIMITED EDITION AVIATOR

First For Sustainable Brand

Austrian eyewear brand Neubau

Eyewear was awarded Mido’s first Certified Sustainable Eyewear Award in the category Sunglasses Europe for its commitment to sustainability. The brand won with its model Romy, which is made from its 100 per cent plant-based material Natural3D using 3D-printing technology in a no-waste method. The judging criteria included recycling of materials, minimisation of consumption in production and distribution processes, optimal use of the supply chain, elimination of waste, recyclability, and use of renewable energy.

Up In The Clouds

Young Italian label Spectaful launched four new models in its Cloud collection, which as the name suggests is supremely light. The material used in the frames combines aluminium and a techno-polymer, used for the first time in eyewear production. The company has two other collections –Ego and Yugaav. Each ultralight Yugaav frame weighs just 7.5g, while the Ego collection iinfuses beautiful colours and interesting shapes, produced in recycled aluminium to highlight a design-oriented sustainable frame.

A striking new aviator sunglass design was previewed by the Milan eyewear label, Movitra, at the show. The Angelo frame is one of three styles in the company’s Limited Edition range. Created in acetate, stainless steel and titanium, Angelo comes in black and havana, combined with a green or electric blue flash lens. The Limited Edition models in the new series are fitted with Zeiss sun lenses for 100 per cent UV protection. Each model has a serial number engraved on the inside of the temple, and comes with a hard case, a limited edition serial number certificate, a pair of screwdrivers with custom 100 per cent genuine leather soft case, and a Zeiss warranty certificate.

facility in Italy using two exclusive materials. The fronts are made from NIL (Natural Injection Light) polymer while the sides are crafted from Xinox steel. In addition to traditional havana or blue, timeless black on the front embraces the concept of chromatic asymmetry in four special edition options – the right side in matching colour with the front and the left side in canary yellow, deep blue, bright green or bright orange.

Limited Edition Aviator Angelo by Movitra

NEW MINIMAL AESTHETIC

Channelling a ‘new minimal aesthetic’, four new frames in the Bold collection by Look Made in Italia have been sized to attract attention without sacrificing their light weight. The frames are designed and manufactured in the company’s production

ALCON UK tel: 0371 376 0017 | fax: 0871 351 1005 | web: www.uk.alcon.com

ASSOCIATED OPTICAL tel: 01628 600410 | fax: 01628 666495 | email: sales@assopt.co.uk web: www.associatedoptical.com

ATLANTIC OPTICAL UK LTD tel: 02920 362 136 fax: 02920 362 137 email: info@atlanticoptical.co.uk web: www.atlanticoptical.co.uk

BAUSCH + LOMB tel: 020 8781 2900 | web: www.bausch.co.uk

BIB OPHTHALMIC INSTRUMENTS tel: 01438 740823 email: sales@bibonline.co.uk web: www.bibonline.co.uk

BONDEYE OPTICAL tel: 0121 7723888 | fax: 0808 2801865 email: sales@bondeyeoptical.co.uk | web: www.bondeyeoptical.co.uk

CARDNET tel: 0345 604 2491 Option 2

CENTROSTYLE OPTICAL CENTRE SUPPLIES LTD tel: 01923 239267 | fax: 01923 253951 | email: sales@centrostyle.com | web: www.centrostyleproducts.com

CFH DOCMAIL tel: 07834 173 288 | email: chris.burridge@cfh.com web: www.cfhdocmail.com

CHARMANT UK CO LTD tel: 020 8992 9222 | fax: 020 8896 0287 | email: sales@charmant.co.uk | web: www.charmant.co.uk

CITATION tel: 0161 464 6731 I email: enquiries@citation.co.uk web: www.citation.co.uk

CONTINENTAL EYEWEAR tel: 0151 426 3907 | fax: 0151 426 9340 | email: sales@continental-eyewear.co.uk | web: www.continental-eyewear.com

COOPERVISION tel: 0870 9000 055 | email: enquiries@coopervision.co.uk | web: www.coopervision.co.uk

DE RIGO UK LTD tel: 01923 249491 | email: info.uk@derigo.com web: www.derigo.com/en

DUNELM OPTICAL tel: 01388 420420 | fax: 01388 810101 | email: dunelm@dunelmoptical.co.uk | web: www.dunelmoptical.com

ESSILOR tel: 01454 281281 fax: 01454 28128 | email: orders@essilor.co.uk | web: www.essilor.co.uk

EYESPACE tel: 01527 870550 fax: 01527 837012 | email: info@eyespace-eyewear.co.uk | web: www.eyespace-eyewear.co.uk

GO EYEWEAR UK LTD tel: 0800 9178270 web: www.goeyeweargroup.com

HILCO EUROPE tel: 0800 591150 | email: info@hilco.co.uk web: www.hilcovision.co.uk

HOYA LENS UK tel: 0845 330 0984 | fax: 0845 330 0977 | email: enquiries@hoya.co.uk | email: orders@hoya.co.uk web: www.hoyavision.com/uk

INTERNATIONAL EYEWEAR LTD tel: 0121 585 6565 | fax:0121 585 0954 | email: sales@internationaleyewear.co.uk web: www.internationaleyewear.co.uk

LAB3SIXTY tel: 0113 5211071 | email: Info@Lab3Sixty.co.uk web: www.lab3sixty.co.uk

LENSTEC EYEWEAR tel: 02920 857122 | fax: 02920 920480 email: eyewear@lenstec.co.uk | web: www.lensteceyewear.co.uk

LENSTEC OPTICAL tel: 02920 883009 | fax: 02920 889798 | email: LenstecCC@lenstec.co.uk web: www.lenstecopticalgroup.co.uk

LOUIS STONE OPTICAL LTD tel: 029 2073 5293 fax: 029 2073 1446 | email: info@louisstone.co.uk web: www.louisstone.co.uk

Preferred Suppliers are suppliers who, by prior arrangement, offer members of the PK National Eyecare Group preferential terms. For full details and terms offered to the membership, please call 01580 713698.

LUXOTTICA (UK) LTD tel: 0808 1658 8555 | web: www.luxottica.com/en

MARCHON tel: 0800 72 2020 | web: www.marchon.com | email: csuk@marchon.com

MARK’ENNOVY tel: 0800 3280610 fax: 0800 3280649 | email: mkservices@markennovy.com | web: www.markennovy.com

MENICON UK LTD (FORMERLY DAVID THOMAS) tel: 01604 646216 | fax: 01604 790366 | email: enquiries@menicon.co.uk | web: www.menicon.co.uk

MID-OPTIC tel: 01332 295001 | fax: 01332 295158 email: orders@midoptic.com | web: www.midoptic.com

MPG GmbH tel: 07583 076 132 | email: andrew.davies@mpg-eyewear.com | web: www.mpg-eyewear.com

NORVILLE tel: 01452 510321 email: sales@norville.co.uk | web: www.norville.co.uk

No7 CONTACT LENSES tel: 01424 850620 | fax: 01424 850650 | email: info@no7contactlenses.com | web: www.no7contactlenses.com

OPTINET LTD tel: 0845 313 0233 | email: sales@optinetuk.com | web: www.optinetuk.com

PERFORMANCE FINANCE tel: 01536 529696 fax: 01536 310033 | email: info@performancefinance.co.uk web: www.performancefinance.co.uk

POSITIVE IMPACT tel: 08446 696907 email: sales@positiveimpact.co.uk | web: www.positiveimpact.co.uk

PRACTICE BUILDING tel: 0800 840 3988 | email: andy@practicebuilding.co.uk | web: www.practicebuilding.co.uk

RETAIL EXPERIENCE DESIGN (RED) tel: 024 7710 3494 | email: design@retailexperiencedesign.co.uk | web: www.retailexperiencedesign.co.uk

RODENSTOCK tel: 01474 325555 | email: sales@rodenstock.co.uk | web: www.rodenstock.co.uk

SAFILO UK LTD tel: 0800 7234 5600 | email: customer.serviceuk@safilo.com web: www.youandsafilo.com

SEIKO OPTICAL UK tel: 01452 610033 | fax: 01452 638250 | email: orders@seiko-optical.co.uk | email: info@seiko-optical.co.uk web: www.seikovision.com/uk

SILHOUETTE UK LTD tel: 020 8987 8899 fax: 020 8987 2430 email: office@silhouette-uk.co.uk web: www.silhouette.com

SPEC-CARE LTD tel: 01392 460806 | email: info@speccareservices.co.uk | web: www.speccareservices.co.uk

STEPPER UK tel: 01732 375975 email: sales@stepper.co.uk | web: www.steppereyewear.com

TANT LABORATORIES tel: 01279 653785 | fax: 01279 658308 email: TantCC@tantlabs.com | web: www.lenstecopticalgroup.co.uk

THEA PHARMACEUTICALS tel: 0345 521 1290 fax: 01782 717 944 email: theasupport@spectrum-thea.co.uk web: www.thea-pharmaceuticals.co.uk

ULTRAVISION tel: 01525 381112 | fax: 01525 370091 | email: info@ultravision.co.uk | web: www.ultravision.co.uk

Windcave Ltd tel: 0800 088 6040 | email: sales@windcave.com web: www.windcave.com

20 20 Optical Services Ltd tel: 01460 929 690 | email: info@2020opticalservices.co.uk web: www.2020opticalservices.co.uk

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