SILMO this year provided a magnificent platform from the Nord Villepente Paris, for designers, innovators, and producers of all things optical who gathered to share ideas, beliefs and creations.
Mingling among the established players there was plenty of fresh talent, and altogether, 1,350 international brands. Silmo covered all facets of optics – from basic to high end, but trade was not the only flavour of the show. The Silmo academy presented lecture series and workshops on refraction, as well as collaborating with Optical World to launch Lab Tech, a series of business sessions aimed at opticians and small laboratories.
The Silmo 2012 presentation “Get to grips with merchandising” offered advice on good practice design techniques to make sales areas more attractive and welcoming.
The prestigious Silmo d’Or awards shone its spotlight on the best innovations of the year.
The winners for each category were:
- Vision: Essilor with Varilux S Design
- Material/ Equipment: Hoya with VisuReal
- Children: Seaport with Milky of Little PAUL & JOE
- Optical Frame: Undostrial with Lucas de Staël
- Sunglass: Jeremy Tarian with Saintonge
- Sports equipment: Silhouette with Adidas Tour Pro
- Frame Technological Innovation: Di Esse with FN 719
- Low Vision: Etex with DaVinci.
The most outstanding features of the show exuded from passionate independent designers who make their mark within a competitive market with flair and creativity. These brands didn’t look to create from current trends but rather fused art with function to push the envelope and become the new edge in design.
The full Silmo report written by special guest reporters – optometrists Lien Trinh and Sophie Koh – who represented us at Silmo 2012, will appear in the December issue of mivision.
