subject: Safilo - Seamless Marble Texture Manufacturer - Green Marble Texture Manufacturer [print this page] History History
Safilo Group S.p.A. was founded in 1934 after Guglielmo Tabacchi purchased Italy first industrial complex for producing lenses and frames in Pieve di Cadore. Exports in the 1930s expanded to many European countries, North Africa, the Middle East and South America. In the 1940s, operations expanded and new construction allowed 300 office and factory-floor employees to operate. However, Safilo was forced to produce only one type of eyewear, a celluloid frame in two colours, amber and reddish Havana brown, that were all sent to Germany. After the war, exports to other European nations resumed and operations expanded to Rome and Milan with exports beginning in the United States. In 1974, the founder of Safilo died and his sons took over running the business. In the 1970s, Safilo opened sales offices in various European nations, patented the Elasta hinge, and introduced a popular UFO model of sunglasses.
In the 1980s, Safilo developed designer collections, gained full control of American eyewear company Starline Optical Corp, then sunglass-maker Friuli-based Oxsol and was listed on the Milan Stock Exchange.
In the 1990s, Safilo entered the Asian market in Hong Kong, opened branches in more European nations, South Africa, Japan and Brazil, acquired American sports eyewear maker Smith Sports Optics, Inc, and Austria's Carrera Optyl.
In May 2001, Safilo Chairman Vittorio Tabacchi began a takeover bid in which he acquired full ownership of Safilo. The company returned to the Milan Stock Exchange in December 2005.
In 2001 the company inaugurated its new centralized warehouse at its Padua headquarters, a state-of-the-art structure with highly automated facilities. At this point, the distribution platform consisted of three main centres, located in Padua, Parsippany, New Jersey, and Hong Kong.
In July 2003 Safilo Group purchased Outlook Eyewear, a US distributor based in Denver. During this period, the Group acquired and developed a number of retail chains: Solstice, Loop Vision, Just Spectacles, Sunglass Island, Eyedonist.
Brands
Its two main product offerings are sunglasses and prescription frames. The company operates in two sectors: manufacturing & wholesale distribution, and retail distribution.
The house brands include:
Safilo
Carrera
Oxydo
Blue Bay
Smith Optics
The company also creates eyewear under license for designer labels such as:
Alexander McQueen
A/X Armani Exchange
Balenciaga
Banana Republic
Bottega Veneta
Diesel
55DSL
Dior
Emporio Armani
Fossil
Giorgio Armani
Gucci
Hugo Boss
Jennifer Lopez
Jimmy Choo
Juicy Couture
Kate Spade
Liz Claiborne
Marc Jacobs
Marc by Marc Jacobs
Max Mara
Max&Co.
Nine West
Pierre Cardin
Saks Fifth Avenue
Valentino
Yves Saint Laurent
References
^ a b c "Financial Highlights". Safilo. http://investors-en.safilo.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=195673&p=irol-financialhighlights. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
^ a b "Safilo Falls Most in 8 Months on Warning of Default Possibility". bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aXEGrvhLPylA. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
^ a b c "History". Safilo. http://www.safilo.com/en/1-history.php. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
External links
Safilo.com Official website
History: Safilo SpA
Companies portal
Categories: Companies listed on the Borsa Italiana | Eyewear retailers | Clothing companies of Italy | Italian brands | Luxury brands | Fashion accessory brands | High fashion brands | Companies established in 1934 | Companies based in PadovaHidden categories: Orphaned articles from February 2010 | All orphaned articles | Portal:Companies/Total
