Milan – Melville (NY)- Marni and Marchon announce the signing of a new global licensing agreement that will see to the development, production and distribution of the Marni Eyewear collections under the design and creative direction of Consuelo Castiglioni. The two companies will launch the new men’s and women’s lines in Spring/Summer 2016 with a full range of styles for both optical frames and sunglasses.

The aim of Marni’s partnership with cutting-edge American eyewear group Marchon is to expand the brand’s reach by developing the market potential of what is a major fashion accessory segment. The collections will retail in Marni stores as well as in select optical retail locations and fashion multi-brand channels worldwide.

“We are strongly invested in this important agreement with Marchon, which aspires to further diversify and grow the Marni accessories business and to significantly consolidate our brand identity,” said Gianni Castiglioni, CEO of Marni Group.

“We are really excited to embark on this collaboration with Marni, which will enable us to focus on empowering our licensing strategy with the European luxury brands and to produce collections that are 100% designed and made in Italy, a driving force of our growth strategy,” added Claudio Gottardi, President and CEO of Marchon Eyewear.

Marni launched a calendar of international high-profile events early last year to celebrate the brand’s first 20 years in business, two decades in which the brand has continued to evolve its distinctive style of understated luxury and vision of alternative design.