#To See The Beauty Of Life
1961
FOUNDATION
Interesting facts
The name of the company is derived from the combination of two Italian words: “luce” (light) and “ottica” (optics). A perfect marriage.
Leonardo Del Vecchio establishes Luxottica at Agordo in the Belluno Dolomites. In its early years, the company manufactures components and accessories for the optical industry.
1971
FIRST LUXOTTICA COLLECTION AT MIDO
Leonardo Del Vecchio sets his sights on a specific goal and pursues it with passion: to make finished eyeglasses worthy of a Luxottica trademark. He thus expands the range of processing to manage the entire production process. In 1971 the first collection of eyewear with the Luxottica brand is presented at MIDO (the International Optics Exhibition) in Milan. Its success marks the definitive transformation of Luxottica from external supplier to eyewear manufacturer.
1974
START OF WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION
Leonardo Del Vecchio senses the importance of selling his products directly and starts a vertical integration strategy with the acquisition of Scarrone S.p.A, a wholesale distributor with an important
1981
INTERNATIONALIZATION OF WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION
Interesting facts
Luxottica is constantly investing to improve the quality of its products. The acquisition of the Sferoflex brand enables the company to get hold of the innovative flexible hinge patent that allows the temples to conform to the shape of the face, ensuring greater resilience of the frame.
Luxottica’s expansion in wholesale takes on international importance with the opening of a subsidiary in Germany, the leading market for the manufacture of eyeglasses. It continues with the acquisition of Avant-Garde Optics Inc., one of the largest distributors at the time in the US market. Over the 1980-1990 decade, growth is stepped up with the acquisition of other independent distributors, the opening of new subsidiaries and joint-ventures in major foreign markets.
1988
LAUNCH OF LICENSING AGREEMENTS WITH
GIORGIO ARMANI
A period of considerable creative turmoil coincides with the evolution of eyeglasses from a tool for correcting eyesight to a fashion accessory. Leonardo Del Vecchio sees the potential of working with the best fashion designers and, with great visionary capacity, anticipates a trend by signing a license agreement with Giorgio Armani. This marks the creation of a globally-important license portfolio. The first agreement with Armani ends in 2003. In 2013, Luxottica signs a new agreement with the designer.
Armani latest campaign: Frames of life
