Healthy attendance and an interesting and broad choice of brands and design collections at opti – in total 307 exhibitors – were encouraging signs of optimism in the optical business at the start of the year.
opti munich, a key trade show for the optical business, took place last weekend over three days. Brands and eyewear designers from around the world exhibited at the fair, which put special focus on sustainability and ‘innovation for optics & design’. The fair also supports new brands via the OPTI BOXES, where a number of emerging names were featured, including Raydiant Cologne and Leipzig Eyewear.
Above: Luxury, high-quality and technical collections were well represented across the halls of opti: Blackfin had just launched their new campaign on the eve of the opti show, underlining colour stories and a bold statement style, www.blackfin.eu
Bionic 3D printed eyewear was launched by Götti Switzerland alongside their brand new vegan eyewear case, made from a vegan leather produced in Europe. The case, which is made at Götti HQ, folds in two different ways so the customer can choose how they want it and the optician can arrange it according to their preferences. www.gotti.ch
New colour stories were very much in evidence across the halls of opti, with many fresh and beautifully rendered directions, from transparencies to runway-oriented colours such as neons, and fashion colours such as digital lavender.
Emmanuelle Khanh showed their new styles which included frames with a new bold EK logo to add glamour and attitude to the range. Their yellow Silencio is a beautiful statement for Summer.
A palette of new yellows was very popular in some of the most fashion focused collections as were the ranges of very chic neutrals – recycled patterned materials (www.regrind.se) have become a feature of the innovative material offer in independent eyewear and were well represented at opti this month, alongside the strong selection of quality 3D printed frames (see below, ROLF Spectacles and a brand new limited edition) and luxurious, natural wood and horn designs.
The second opti BOX AWARD was won by the Swiss brand LARS Brillen – a start-up making 3D printed frames highlighting timelessness and sustainability. LARS Brillen is the second winner of the prize following eyewear designer Beate Leinz, who won the first opti BOX AWARD in 2022. opti 2024 will take place on 12th to 14th January, at the Fairground Munich. www.opti.de