Blog

July 6, 2021July 6, 2021

EssilorLuxottica and Coach Renew Global License Agreement

EssilorLuxottica and Coach announced the renewal of an exclusive license agreement for the design, production and worldwide distribution of prescription frames and sunglasses globally under the Coach Eyewear brand. The five-year agreement will come into effect on July 1, 2021 and run until June 30, 2026 with the potential for a five-year extension.

“EssilorLuxottica is delighted to renew and further develop its partnership with Coach, a leading design brand which represents authentic craftsmanship and luxury modern American style. Through our new branded eyewear collections, we continue to build loyalty and strengthen our emotional connection with Coach’s clients around the world,” commented Francesco Milleri, CEO of EssilorLuxottica.

“We are so pleased to renew our successful partnership with Luxottica,” said Todd Kahn, CEO and Brand President of Coach. “We are excited for the next chapter of our relationship, and are looking forward to continuing to create beautiful eyewear that is crafted to last.”

Source: EssilorLuxottica

Essilor Invested Company, DeepOptics, Debuts First-Ever Adaptive Focus Sunglasses

DeepOptics, an Israeli start-up and developer of innovative electronic lenses technology, has launched 32°N, the first and only adaptive focus sunglasses. 32°N sunglasses enable a number of different reading prescriptions with a single pair of glasses. Together with Samsung, Essilor is an investor in the company, and has been involved in the conception of 32°N from an engineering and design perspective.

32°N is able to dynamically correct for reading while serving as functional sunglasses. The glasses mimic natural human vision, allowing users to seamlessly switch between “reading mode” for near vision and “scenic mode” for far distances. Reading mode offers 2 Diopters addition, on the bottom of the lens but also at the center or at the top. A boost of 4 Diopters is also provided when needed. 32°N addresses the needs of emmetropic people experiencing presbyopia.

To further leverage this product and its potential globally, a Kickstarter campaign has been launched from June 15, 2021 onwards.

Click HERE for the full press release.

July 1, 2021July 5, 2021

Mirage and North Sails Apparel Announce Licensing Agreement

Mirage and North Sails Apparel have signed a licensing agreement for the production and distribution of North Sails-branded sunglasses. Distribution has recently started on the Italian market through Mirage’s network of agents and will subsequently be extended to Europe and the rest of the world.

The partnership between the two companies is underpinned by shared values and a common entrepreneurial vision driven by an ethical and sustainable business culture, with investments in cutting-edge plants and energy-efficient processes that contribute to a reduced impact on the environment; continuous research and development of materials to produce sustainable and recycled eyewear; staff training to promote ethical behavior in the workplace.

Founded in 1957 by Lowell North, a US sailor and Olympic gold medalist, North Sails has established itself as the world’s leading sailmaker over the decades.

All models are made in Italy and are made of technical (including floating), eco-sustainable and recycled materials (such as fishing nets), with high-performance lenses. The packaging is also made from 100% recycled materials.

The urban-tech look of the collection combines Italian design and functional details in a line of men’s and women’s eyewear designed for extreme sports, but which can also be worn in a casual context. North Sails sunglasses will be available at selected opticians and in flagship stores worldwide.

Click HERE for the full press release.

July 1, 2021May 19, 2026

Giving Sight in Manila, Philippines

Donations to Optometry Giving Sight helped fund Canadian Vision Care’s support for eye care in Manila, Philippines. Their partnership with the SPECS Eye Train Clinic provides eye care out of two creatively converted railway cars.

CooperVision Specialty EyeCare Announces Uniform Markings Across Blanchard Onefit Family of Scleral Lenses

CooperVision Specialty EyeCare announced that lens markings are now uniform across the entire Blanchard Onefit™ family of scleral lenses, including Onefit™ MED and Onefit™ MED+. The uniform markings for front torics and toric haptics across the Onefit™ family aid in distinguishing whether quadrant specific landing zones and/or limbal zones have been indicated, thereby streamlining the fitting process for eye care professionals (ECPs). If quadrant specific landing zones have been indicated, the values for all four quadrants will be etched into each lens.

“We are committed to producing the highest-quality scleral lenses for the benefit of both the patient and the eye care professional,” said Marie-Christine Blanchard, Global Lead, Scleral and Irregular Cornea category for CooperVision Specialty EyeCare, Americas. “With the innovative lens design features of our Onefit™ MED and Onefit™ MED+, we are making ECPs’ lives easier. This is one of several ways we are strengthening clinical relationships and enhancing our support for the specialty eye care community.”

Further simplifying the fitting process with Onefit™ MED and Onefit™ MED+ lenses, CooperVision Specialty EyeCare has also expanded the Quadrant Specific fitting tool within its online custom tools to provide a visual depiction of the lens markings that will be seen on the final lens.

Click HERE for the full press release.