Background
The history of Safilo, the fully integrated Italian eyewear creator and worldwide distributor of quality and trust, dates back to 1878, when a manufacturing site for producing lenses and frames was first opened in Calalzo di Cadore (Belluno) in the Venetian Alps. In 1934, the site was bought and incorporated into Safilo by Guglielmo Tabacchi, making it the oldest global player in the eyewear industry.
Today, Safilo possesses a unique heritage, expertise and savoir-faire. With the ability to break the mould and bring innovation to the industry through design studios in Padova, Milan, New York and Portland (Oregon), and eight owned production plants, the company plays a unique role in the market worldwide. Today, Safilo is able to experiment with non-traditional materials and shapes, creating products and setting leading worldwide trends, whilst quality, trust and tradition remain at the forefront of Safilo’s DNA.
Products/Services
Safilo’s power asset is a large portfolio with a range of brands representing different segments and covering the entire spectrum of eyewear. From Dior with the use of cutting-edge materials and deconstructed shapes, Fendi and Céline setting fashion trends, to Carrera’s strong heritage which remains hugely relevant today, and Polaroid which has changed the eyewear market with its pioneering invention of polarized lenses.
Markets
The value of traditional eyewear and ongoing commitment to preserve it through a strong culture of product are key elements of Safilo’s business model: a model that aims at enhancing Safilo’s ties with the territory in the name of economic development, employment and opportunities for young people to access training by trade, in a sector that continues to see positive signs in all international markets.
Competitive Advantages
As a commitment to craftsmanship and innovation – past, present, and future – in 2015 Safilo established its very first Eyewear Product School, based on the north European model of the apprenticeship schools. With the creation of the Product School, Safilo recognizes its great responsibility to train a new generation of expert artisans, share know-how and preserve the culture, techniques and passion for eyewear, all in the name of Made in Italy.
The school has started in September for the school year 2015/2016. A three-year program, in line with the best practices of international apprenticeships, that will see the participants follow the Safilo Product School’s training pathway, which explores the traditional craftsmanship and the specific know-how of the company in the world of eyewear, the knowledge of the moulds and shapes, and different materials. The Safilo Product School also devotes ample space to learning-by-doing, coupled with seminars hosted by managers and field experts at an international level, as well as regular classroom training and cross-disciplinary project work.
Key Facts
5 core brands and 24 licensed brands
€1.279 million net turnover in 2015
7,400 employees worldwide
7 production plants wholly owned by Safilo
24 showrooms
An extensive wholly owned global distribution network in 39 countries
98,000 doors worldwide
A long-lasting tradition that dates back to 1878
Location
Settima Strada 15
35129 Padova
Italy
Tel: +39 049 6985111
Fax: +39 049 6985360
Website
