The growth forecasts for Italian eyewear on international markets were very optimistic — and they also turned out to be true.

In fact, ANFAO (Associazione Nazionale Fabbricanti Articoli Ottici) recently confirmed a new record, with exports of frames, sunglasses and lenses that rose by 11.8% for 2014, totaling €3,110 million — a record-high, that achieved to offset the chronic difficulties of the domestic market.

This tendency eventually rubbed off on the 45th edition of MIDO, Italy’s premium exhibition for optics, optometry and ophthalmology, as the event experienced a considerable growth for its 2015 edition, that took place at Fieramilano, from February 28th to March 2nd.

Not only did the Italian eyewear show present considerable developments, such as an increase in exhibition space (+10%) and exhibitors (+150, for a total of 1200), which lead to over 49 000 visitors (+8,7%) in total — it also introduced innovative endeavors, such as WMIDO and Otticlub, among others.

While the latter provided a multi-functional area for eyecare and eyewear related seminars, conferences, courses and training sessions, WMIDO debuted as the fair’s new weekly digital magazine with updates on the global eyewear industry. In both cases, the intention was clear: MIDO’s aim was to push its own boundaries, by offering industry related advantages that went far beyond regular fair conditions and services. In addition, the show also rewarded originality with the so-called Bestand and Bestore awards, that honored the fair’s most creative exhibition space, as well as the participating eyewear store that offered the most indulging shopping experience.



In this boundary-pushing context, MIDO was also about revamping and boosting previously existing areas. LabAcademy, for instance, made its debut within the Design Lab area as a place for carefully selected up-and-coming designers, who presented their work at the show for the first time.

Finally, even if this year’s edition of MIDO is already over, the fair continues to push and promote Made in Italia eyewear, with SEE with MIDO at Fuorisalone, a fringe event scheduled during Design Week in Milan. The first edition of this new format will take place at Showroom 31, inside of Opicificio 31, Tortona Street, from April 13th to 19th. The event that gathers together carefully selected eyewear brands will be offering Italy’s most innovative eyewear designs to an international public of buyers, press, and eyewear aficionados.

As Cirillo Marcolin, President of MIDO and ANFAO, confirmed himself in an official release, Italy’s leading eyewear event is all about constant evolution and innovation. ‘On the strength of the success of Italian-made products – with the value of exports scoring a record high in 2014 – and driven by a bigger Milanese exhibition, which is renewing itself in new areas, we can be confident about the future, knowing that we can offer a new drive and reasonable hopes for leaving the global recession behind us,’ stated Marcolin.

The upcoming edition of MIDO will take place in Milan from February 27th to 29th, 2016.

More information on www.mido.it.

Picture courtesy of MIDO.