pg. 2

Issue # 26August 26th 2015

A shark for Katy Perry

pg. 5

Calvin Harris with Emporio ArmaniThe well-known producer and DJ Calvin Harris is the star of the men campaign. pg. 4

The best of the Universal Exposition and new architectural developments not to be missed in Milan.

Expo 2015 and the latest architectural developments

Ph. A

ngel

o D

adda

world weekly wonders WMIDO 2

The most famous international architects have designed the pavilions at the Universal Exposition, while Milan took the opportunity to be transformed and change its look.

The creativity of dozens of architects from all over the world has contributed to realize Expo 2015 with different solutions and languages in accordance with the countries of origin and their styles.Although the Tree of Life produced the “Fun Fair effect” (to the pleasant surprise of many visitors) and some pavilions conveyed an identity that is, perhaps, too traditional (such as Turkmenistan, Hungary, Oman, Qatar, Nepal and Romania), there are many structures that are worth visiting. An example is Brazil and the impressive walkable net that covers the entire length of the structure and is suspended above the country’s various cultivations. Strong emotions were undoubtedly

Expo 2015 and the latest architectural developments

| Issue #26 | August 26th 2015

aroused by the internal forest proposed by Austria, the desert sand of a Kuwaiti environment, the British beehive and Korea’s total white.The Bahrain and Angola spaces were also highly appealing. The Bahrain area in particular invited visitors to immerse themselves in a long sequence of spaces flowing from the inside to the outside, to shade and fragments of an Arabian landscape.Lastly, worthy of a visit are the nine theme Clusters, exemplary demonstrations of the creativity of young designers.For Expo 2015, Milan wanted to introduce itself to an international public with a new architectural look by reclaiming historical spaces that had deteriorated, and also to show a new face of skyscrapers and futuristic residential districts. The Darsena (dock), Milan’s ancient river port, for example, has been returned to past splendor with cycle routes, boarding points for tourist boat trips, and pedestrian areas. The old exhibition center in Milan is now the site of Citylife, a new district of green spaces dominated by an existing skyscraper, the Allianz building, and by another one under construction. Recently inaugurated in the former Ansaldo area is Mudec, the Museum of Cultures that hosts the ethnographic collections of Milan City Council and is a meeting place for the world’s cultures.The world of fashion has also made its contribution to this renaissance: Giorgio Armani opened a Silos that hosts the archives of his work of 40 years, the Trussardi Foundation contributed to the creation of the Wheatfield at Porta Garibaldi and, lastly, the Prada Foundation opened its new headquarters, an “Art Campus”, designed by internationally renowned architect Rem Koolhaas.Ph

. Ang

elo

Dad

da

Ph. A

ngel

o D

adda

world weekly wonders WMIDO 3

Alain Afflelou focuses on discount

Strength in numbers The social campaign “Buy Vision, Give Sight” will unite the Revo brand, Bono, the U2 frontman, and Brien Holden Vision Institute of Sydney, in the fight against preventable blindness and low vision. For every pair of Revo sunglasses sold, the company will apportion $10 to the initiative. The funds will contribute to guaranteeing fundamental eye care services and the long-term development of a more dependable system of ophthalmology services in the relevant communities. During the U2 world tour, Bono will wear exclusively Revo eyeglasses. The singer has also designed "Bono for Revo", a capsule collection of sunglasses available from the fall in North America; as with all Revo sunglasses, $10 will be allocated to the Brien Holden Vision Institute.

Alain Afflelou has acquired Optical Discount, the chain of over 90 low-cost outlets in France, Belgium and Morocco. The operation has increased the French giant’s portfolio to almost 1300 optical stores.With the Claro by Afflelou and Optical Discount network, Alain Afflelou is a low-cost organization that now has about 150 outlets. The low-cost brand will also have interesting prospects of international growth in the countries in which the French chain has the biggest presence, starting with Spain and followed by Portugal. The 3-year objective is to have approximately 300 stores in France and about a hundred abroad. Eye care professionals Stéphane Laloum and Gilles Meridjen, founders and directors of Optical Discount, will remain at the head of the company.

During the first six months of 2015, Luxottica had solid growth in its reference markets supported by the performance of the brands in its portfolio. Turnover exceeded 2.5 billion euros (+22%), operating margin improved by 140 basis points and net income grew by 34%. In the first half of the year the Luxottica leadership (CEOs Adil Khan and Massimo Vian, e.d.) made important decisions aimed at supporting long-term profitable growth. The principal initiatives that were started included the further integration of Oakley, the strengthening of the organization in China, and the start of a price harmonization program. “We are confident and optimistic about the second half of the year. The results of the first seven months - with July supported by an excellent summer season – allow us to confirm the outlook for the whole of 2015”, commented Luxottica’s CEOs.

The return of Prada Journal At the end of July, Prada and Giangiacomo Feltrinelli

Editore launched Prada Journal, the 3rd edition of the international literary competition for emerging writers. The theme this year is: “Light, Shade and Mirages. People and things are not always the way we see them.”The winners will receive a cash prize, their stories will be published in an eBook as part of the Prada Journal digital anthology, and individually in the Zoom series by Feltrinelli.The winning stories will also feature in a modern ‘Theatre of Conversation and Exchange’, thanks to subsequent adaptation for the theatre. The narration of the stores, filtered through the written story and the optical eyewear in the Prada Journal collection, will be a real three-dimensional publishing experienceThe competition ends on August 31.

Business is booming for Luxottica

Mas

sim

o V

ian

and

Adi

l Kha

n, C

EOs

of L

uxot

tica

| Issue #26 | August 26th 2015

world weekly wonders WMIDO 4

I. Jeffrey O. Gustafson. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Turn over

According to market research company DBK, in 2014 the demand in Spain’s optical sector grew to 2,180 million euros, an increase of 3.8% compared to 2013, which interrupted the downward trend of previous financial years. Ophthalmic lenses cover 44% of the market, followed by frames at 22%, contact lenses and sunglasses at 15%. For 2015, the forecast increase in sales at optical stores is 4% (with an estimated 2,270 million euros), while billings in 2016 should be close to 2,365 million euros.Encouraging figures come also from Anfao, which sees Spain in third place after France and Germany for the sale of progressive lenses.

Optics grow in Spain

Marc Abitbol President & General Manager for the US and Canada Luneau TechnologyMauro Grimaldi CEO PucciGrita Loebsack General Director Emerging Brands Luxe – Couture & Maroquinerie KeringTania Spinelli Chief Design Officer Tamara Mellon

desi

gn b

y M

ario

Mil

ana

For some years now in industrial design and the world of eyewear a “rough” vein has been developing. Its interpreters include Vasuma - Eyewear from Stockholm, whose latest interpretation is an “asphalt” effect created by milling machines that accurately cut and process the Mazzucchelli 1849 sheet of black acetate. The sun model Rubber features an external surface reminiscent of melting roads in summer that glimmers with little reflections, just like the sun shining on the asphalt. In perfect equilibrium between vintage and modernity, the style is unisex with smoke-grey lenses.Rubber is joined by two versions in acetate: Retro-Honey and Amber-Sun with the equally alluring "Swedish touch" that’s always à la page.

The evolution of rough mood

The collaboration between Emporio Armani and the well-known producer and DJ Calvin Harris continues. Once again he has signed the fall/winter 2015/16 campaign for the apparel, underwear, eyewear and watches lines for men.The campaign was shot in Brooklyn, New York City, by photographer Lachlan Bailey. Rich in detail in cinematographic black and white, the visuals show Calvin Harris in his place of work. The innovative lines and textures of the garments and accessories for this season are emphasized by the futuristic setting and the graphic representation of the surfaces.The campaign further consolidates the bond between the brand and the music world. An energetic, elegant and dynamic bond that reflects the characteristics of the brand.

Calvin Harris for Emporio Armani men

| Issue #26 | August 26th 2015

world weekly wonders WMIDO 5

There are ever-increasing examples of stars who have decided to launch into fashion and the latest is singer Katy Perry. After launching #KatyPerryPRISMcollection, the collection that includes eyewear, she designed the cover for the #LEFTSHARK mobile phone inspired by the unforgettable choreography of this year’s Super Bowl that made her a viral phenomenon.Available in all stores from September 2015, the new Katy Perry collection called “Universe” follows the singer’s eclectic style and its original design embodies everything she is known for.

Design, fashion & lifestyle

Join forces to guarantee a better future for woman in rural Mozambique. This is the ambitious objective of Milanese non-profit institute Oikos Onlus – ONG that for 20 years in Italy and the southern hemisphere has been committed to protecting the environment and sustainable development, and Jewelry Green, an emerging Italian jewelry brand that makes unique and original jewels in tune with nature and its elements.From June 29 through October 31, Jewelry Green will donate 10% of the purchase price of jewelry in the Uterus collection to the Istituto Oikos project “From the Seed to the Plate”, to tangibly help the women of the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique. The initiative includes the creation of Pemba Verde, a social enterprise that unites 25 local farmers’ associations.

Jewels for Africa

A shark for Katy Perry

At its 20th edition and with the support of the Association of Industrial Design (ADI) and the ADI Collezione Compasso d’Oro Foundation, the “Targa Rodolfo Bonetto” is an award for university and design school students from all over the world. The award not only calls for themes and projects but has a wider concept that is dear to everyone: happiness. The objective is to encourage young people to take a different view of creativity in an Italy where there is a lot of design but also a lot of homologation and standardization. The winner was Project BIO_PIC, a self-service tray designed by Priscilla Lanotte, a student at the Accademia di Brera (Milan).

Editorial Director: Francesco Gili MIDO Srl Unipersonale · Via Petitti, 16 - 20149 Milano (Italy) · Phone +39 02 32673673 · P. Iva IT 07164050150

Cod. Fiscale e n. Iscr. Ufficio Imprese di Milano 07164050150 · Cap. soc. 120.000,00 i.v. R.e.a. 1710133 Company subject to the direction and the coordination of Anfao - Associazione Nazionale Fabbricanti Articoli Ottici WMido is published in cooperation with Publicomm srl · Via Quadrio 20/40 - 20154 Milano (Italy) · P. Iva 02030290999

email: redazione@wmido.com

A prize for creativity in young people

Scheduled from October 6 through 9, 2015, at Rho Fiera Milano, Vitrum is a fair that specializes in glass-making machinery, equipment and products. In collaboration with ICE (the agency for the promotion and internationalization of Italian companies abroad), it will host a large exhibition on the past, present and future of glass. The exhibition includes three main sections: glass in history and design, glass as the main feature of architecture, glass and new technologies. The objects on display include an amphora with scenes of gladiators dating back to the II century AD exhibited only once before in Milan in 1964, a very rare example of a glass radiator of 1941, and a 2007 edition of the “Ghost” armchair by Cini Boeri in silvered glass made by Fiam. G

hos

t - A

rch

itec

t: C

ini B

oeri

| Issue #26 | August 26th 2015

The history of glass on display in Milan