Issue # 30 September 23 th 2015 Dita acquires Christian Roth The Californian companies to buy the German brand pg. 3 Waiting for Mido Green carpet for Sergio Rossi pg. 5 The Never Ending Wonder will take place in just six months. pg. 2
Waiting for Mido The countdown has started for the 2016 edition, that will be held from 27 to 29 February 2016. The 45 th Mido edition was indeed the recordbreaking one with 49.000 visitors during the threeday event, +8,7% over the previous edition, larger exhibition space (+10%) and 150 new exhibitors. These final figures as well as a completely new look restyled logo, new location and pavilions located closer to the subway, new exhibit layout - confirmed its focus on creativity, innovation and above all the ability to anticipate trends. Major companies, small manufacturing and emerging designers, as well as niche eyewear brands, designed MIDO as a guide and mentor capable to encourage reference sector and not just fashion addicts. 2015 confirmed Milano as the center of firmament with its Food, Fashion and Design Fairs as well as the world s Expo. According to the last figures, MIDO was the international exhibition which received the most keen, interested and numerous audience, especially considering economic uncertainty analyzed Cirillo Marcolin, President of Mido. Six theme areas which characterized the last edition will be confirmed as a hallmark of MIDO: Fashion District - the exclusive space that hosts the world s top players and the small and medium companies that get inspiration from the world of fashion, Design Lab with the Lab Academy an area-temptation for ground-breaking companies, Lenses the place to be for the leaders and the small companies of this product, Mido Tech the world s largest exhibition area dedicated to machinery, raw materials and components, as well as the FAR East Pavilion the exclusive area for the most important Asian companies. Otticlub has been confirmed for the upcoming edition and it will be dedicated to eye care professionals, with its multifunction area for seminars, conferences, courses and educational meetings in order to provide to the participant all important updates on the latest developments of the industry. After the first successful edition, the Bestore Award is confirmed for 2016. The prize will be awarded to the store providing the best shopping experience. In line with the evolution of concept stores, MIDO wants to promote the circulation of new ideas on the crucial elements for an effective visual merchandising strategy: the importance of interior design, product exhibition, customer interaction in a friendly and creative environment. Retailers around the world can apply by uploading photos of their store and a brief description of its features on the MIDO website. An international jury, composed by industry leaders and trend setters, experts in marketing and visual merchandising, will judge the finest optical stores in the world. For the third year, visitors of MIDO 2016 will have the chance to vote their favorite booth and to be judges of the Bestand Award. Originality, innovation and experiential interaction are the ingredients of success for this important achievement. Given the results of last edition s on-line preregistrations records, prospect attendees are encouraged to check MIDO website www.mido.com for news & updates. Visitor registration will be open from November 3, 2015. We are already working on the upcoming edition in order to confirm or break the 2015 record, once more, added Vice President Giovanni Vitaloni. The appointment is at Mido, Fiera Milano Rho-Pero starting February 27 until February 29. Happy to have you here with us, again!. world weekly wonders WMIDO 2
The Sight Tour A new chapter for Christian Roth Commissione Difesa Vista (Italian committee for the protection of eyesight) is setting off on a new Sight Tour, the awareness-raising initiative promoted in Italy in collaboration with Assogruppi Ottica, Federottica and Vision+Onlus and with the support of Mido. Using the same slogan, Vediamoci in Giro (See You Around), a specially-equipped truck will stop in 9 cities next month: October 2 and 3 in Bari, 4 and 5 in Lecce, 6 and 7 in Taranto, 8 in Matera, where there will be a meeting dedicated to prevention on the occasion of World Sight Day, 9 and 10 in Potenza, 11, 12, 13 and 14 in Naples, 15 and 16 in Salerno, 18 and 19 in Catania and 20 and 21 in Caltanissetta. On the TIR della Vista (Eyesight Truck) professional ophthalmologists and opticians will be available to perform free eyesight screenings. At the end of the exam, patients will be given the results which will be useful for a more thorough examination subsequently. Los Angeles-based eyewear company Dita Group has acquired luxury brand Christian Roth and the first collection will be presented in September 2016. Christian Roth and his partner, Eric Domege, shall both remain as Creative Directors of the luxury eyewear company. I have long been a fan of Christian s and Eric s work and creative mindset within the eyewear field said Micky Dillon, Ceo of Dita Group. "Eric Domege and myself are thrilled to embark on this new chapter with the Dita Group. Sharing a passion and a deep understanding of true luxury eyewear with their founders, we are committed to further realizing our dreams for the Christian Roth brand, and couldn't think of a better home to be a part of said Christian Roth. Nuiit in the Far East with Visual Culture With a commercial strategy focused on exports, the Nuiit brand was presented for the first time at the latest edition of Mido and it has already captivated important and prestigious store windows in Milan, New York City, Paris, Amsterdam, Monte Carlo, Madrid... The brand recently signed an exclusive distribution agreement for Hong Kong, China and Taiwan with Visual Culture, a leading company based in Hong Kong and in the market for over 20 years. Visual Culture director Pazo Ho commented on the agreement: I am sure that a high quality product made entirely in Italy and with high levels of technology will be welcomed by the Asian market and by our demanding clientele in particular. Safilo steps into shoes Safilo Group and Alpargatas, the Brazilian group and world leader for footwear, apparel and accessories, have signed a license agreement for havaianas eyewear. It will be in effect through 2021 and is renewable by mutual agreement. The new eyewear collection will be designed, developed, manufactured and sold, worldwide, by Safilo through a widespread distribution network starting from the second half of 2016. We are excited about this new collaboration and the confidence shown in us. With havaianas we add significant value to our portfolio and strengthen our presence in mass cool, one of the fastest growing segments as shown in our Strategic Plan 2020, commented Safilo Group CEO Luisa Delgado. Carla Schmitzberger, Global Director of havaianas, added: For us, eyewear is a strategic category with long term potential. world weekly wonders WMIDO 3
Geometric inspirations Geometries - linear and circular cutting are an evergreen fashion trend: stripes, squares, rectangles and circles never stop inspiring designers and can often be seen on clothes and accessories. Following this popular mood, Okia has developed a new HDA concept named Solid Cool. As a result of the ongoing research and improvement of the patented HDA Technology, this frame s temples exhibit geometric lines that, combined with different gradient colors, create a 3D and multilayer effect. Gold and silver lines between the color layers created through the application of SY materials - make the design even more prominent and add a touch of refinement to this special frame. A new partnership for Tag Heuer Alain Afflelou and Logo Group - creator, manufacturer and distributor of the Tag Heuer Avant- Garde Eyewear brand - have signed an exclusive partnership. For one year, as from October, the Made in France eyewear collection "TAG Heuer Avant-Garde Eyewear for Alain Afflelou" will be available exclusively in stores in France and other countries where the brand is present (Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Lebanon and Algeria). Thanks to this unprecedented partnership, the Logo Group offers opticians in the Alain Afflelou network, the possibility of offering high quality Made in France frames to customers at a price anyone can afford. Designed for sportsmen who want a challenge, the collection is inspired by the famous Tag Heuer slogan "Don't crack under pressure." Direct distribution for Eco in Italy Modo has always been distinguished by sustainability and social responsibility thanks to collections 95% of which are made from materials that are recycled or come from renewable sources, and by initiatives like "One pair of eyeglasses, One tree" (the company planted a tree for each frame purchased) and "Buy a pair of eyeglasses, Gift a pair of eyeglasses (for every frame purchased Modo donated a pair of eyeglasses to people in need). On September 1, 2015, the company decided to distribute the Eco line directly in Italy through its country-wide network of representatives. Like the rest of the Modo family s brand portfolio, shipments and aftersales service will be carried out by the operations office in Milan. Modo has offices in Milan, New York City and Stockholm and its portfolio includes the Modo, Eco, Derek Lam, Jason Wu and 7 For All Mankind brands. Eco Turn over design by Mario Milana Michele Andrews North America Director of Professional Affairs Cooper Vision Laurent Boury North America Vice President of Marketing Luxottica Hilary Hartley North America Vice President Optical Channel Oakley Charles-Hubert De Chaudenay General Director Vente-privee Roopal Patel Fashion Director Saks Patricia Urquiola Art Director Cassina world weekly wonders WMIDO 4
Design, fashion & lifestyle A floating cloud over Covent Garden Until September 27 London s Convent Garden Market will host an installation titled Heartbeat by French artist Charles Pétillon: stretching 54 meters in length and 12 meters in width, 100,000 white latex balloons tied together and crossed by lights float across the ceiling of the South Hall. Conceived to imitate the beating of a heart, a white light pulsates gently inside the structure. The optical effect is of a large white cloud. Balloons symbolize joy and Pétillon uses them to change the way people perceive the places they know well, inviting them to look at things with new eyes. A rapper and a writer for French Connection The affirmation Will be sums up the concept of the fall/winter 2015 campaign by French Connection, the British brand of women s apparel. Interpreting it are two emerging young talents: Irish rapper Rejjie Snow and American writer, model, sculptress and performer India Salvor Menuez. Some personal declarations by the two young protagonists like India Salvor Menuez "I am a woman by nature and by choice", encircle their poses and provide another narrative key. "We are very pleased with the new creative team behind this season s campaign and satisfied with the end result" said Stephen Marks, president and CEO of French Connection. Art direction was by an internal French Connection team, which chose Harley Weir, a very young photographer from London. The Centre Pompidou opens in Malaga Starting this year, the Centre Pompidou will export its brand and part of its collection to various cities beginning with Malaga. Since the end of March, the capital city of Andalusia hosts the museum in the Cubo, an ultra-new architectural structure designed by architects Javier Pérez de la Fuente and Juan Antonio Marín Malavé, with the collaboration of the artist, Daniel Buren. Five subjects will be handled at Malaga: Metamorphosis, Self-Portraits, The Man Without a Face, The Body Politics, The Body in Pieces. There will be sculptures, installations, paintings and videos by Francis Bacon, Marc Chagall, Frida Kahlo, René Magritte, Alberto Giacometti, Fernand Legér, Alexander Calder. Obviously it had to include Pablo Picasso, to whom all 5 categories refer. A collection with an eco soul Sergio Rossi, the Italian shoe company steeped in artisanal tradition, has collaborated with Eco-Age, the brand consultancy specialising in sustainability, to launch the first Green Carpet Collection of Luxury Accessories. The butterfly-inspired collection of vening shoes and matching pochette are lovingly crafted from organic silk - spun, dyed and woven in established family run factories in the Italian territory. Recognising the importance of sustainability, Sergio Rossi and its suppliers collaborated closely to develop this truly sustainable silk fabric; the first-ever silk to be awarded the Green Carpet Challenge (GCC) Brandmark - a guarantor of sustainable excellence. The Green Carpet Collection is on sale exclusively at the company web site and in a selection of Sergio Rossi boutiques. Editorial Director: Francesco Gili MIDO Srl Unipersonale Via Petitti, 16-20149 Milano (Italy) Phone +39 02 32673673 P. Iva IT 07164050150 Cod. Fiscale e n. Iscr. Ufficio Imprese di Milano 07164050150 Cap. soc. 120.000,00 i.v. R.e.a. 1710133 Company subject to the direction and the coordination of Anfao - Associazione Nazionale Fabbricanti Articoli Ottici WMido is published in cooperation with Publicomm srl Via Quadrio 20/40-20154 Milano (Italy) P. Iva 02030290999 email: redazione@wmido.com world weekly wonders WMIDO 5