Made in Italy Eyewear

Vitality, inventiveness and ambition are the positive qualities that have made it possible for the Italian eyewear industry to successfully face up to the competitive challenges over the last half-century. With an efficient distribution network, outstanding development of industrial facilities combined with an extremely qualified work force, the Italian optical sector was one of the first to realize the importance of the combination of esthetic values and technology. It's no wonder that it has become an uncontested world leader. Currently more than 80% of eyewear manufacturing is concentrated in the Veneto region (the province of Belluno alone accounts for 72.6%) where it is said to have had its origin. In fact, in 1878 Angelo Frescura (who is considered, and rightly so, the founder of this industry) registered his eyewear factory, the first in Italy, located near Calalzo di Cadore, with a notary in Padua. (The invention of spectacles, however, goes back to much earlier times, around the 11th century). This natural environment formed the perfect cradle for an industrial sector that has evolved from a "family-run small business" to a full-fledged international industry in just over 300 years. Many descendent entrepreneurs have conscientiously cultivated a global vision of their industry. This means they focused on constantly being aware of the socio-cultural changes taking place in various countries, and tried to capture and interpret their essence and spirit. Flexibility in making use of their productive energies allowed these companies to offer varied responses to different world markets. Furthermore, the conviction that cooperation between the various components of the sector is one of the winning cards toward creating a place for oneself in the international scenario, contributed significantly to making the eyewear industry one of the primary driving forces behind the Italian economy. The eyewear industry in Italy comprises approximately 1,510 companies, (260 industrial manufacturers and 1250 small businesses) which employ 17,800 workers.