Following a long illness, Arnold Schmied, the founder of the Austrian eyewear company Silhouette International Schmied AG, has passed away at the age of 89.
Mr Schmied and his wife Annaleise co-founded Silhouette, in 1964 with “a vision to make accessories out of visual aids that make people look good while improving their vision”.
Today the company, which is still family owned and headquartered in Linz, employs 1,500 people worldwide.
A statement issued by the Board of Directors and employees of Silhouette International Schmied AG, said, “with the passing of Arnold Schmied, Sr, on Friday, 31 January 2014, not only have we lost a great entrepreneurial personality, but a person – pioneer and visionary – who has marked the lives of us all and who, with his courage, his enthusiasm and his joy, will always be a role model for us.”
Lionel Minter and Cassandra Mow, on behalf of the Silhouette Australia team, issued the following statement: “Mr Schmied had a quiet nature but was always welcoming on our visits to Linz. He was remarkable and we will miss him but are thankful he survived to the 50th year of the Silhouette company. Our heartfelt condolences go to his family, friends and colleagues”.
