A cold snap, complete with snow, didn’t stop buyers flocking to the 48th Mido in Milan. More than 58,000 entrances of eyewear professionals from around the world experienced the “wonder” of an ever growing eyewear spectacular that filled seven pavilions.
“Mido is to eyewear what Oscar night is to cinema,” said Mido President Giovanni Vitaloni. “We welcomed our 1,305 exhibitors in a venue that becomes more and more enjoyable each year, allowing all of us to focus on creativity and doing business during the three day show. (It is) an elegant and entertaining event where doing business and networking with colleagues from the world over is a daily occurrence.”
Jacque Katsieris from ProOptics said business was high on every participants’ agenda this year. “The show was the busiest I’ve seen in recent years with Saturday, the first day, seeing the aisles packed with people and a great vibe of excitement in the air.
“Florals, pearls, bling and more bling was a welcome change from vintage, tort and black seen at Mido. There was lots of fabulous colour blocking, which brings collections to life, along with feminine lines and shapes.”
Florals, pearls, bling and more bling was a welcome change from vintage,
tort and black seen at Mido
Aaron from Aaron’s Eyewear was quick to notice new panto shapes in metal. “There was panto, panto everywhere! The edgy female fashionista’s are wearing double bridge aviators in soft pastel and muted ice cream colours while translucent colours in acetate are also in vogue…and, welcome back to the brow bar. Rumour has it smaller rectangular shapes are the ‘next big thing’.”
Jacque said although men’s frames haven’t changed dramatically, there were signs of a shift. “The guys weren’t forgotten. Round, keyhole and plastic/metal combinations were still the go, however designers are pushing the envelope with more cool metal and titanium.”
Both Jacque and Aaron were surprised by the cool weather that hit Milan for Mido.
“In the 15 or so years I’ve been attending Mido, I don’t recall it ever snowing. It was c-c-cold!,” Aaron said.
“Temperatures dropped as low as minus seven,” said Jacque. “There was snow on Sunday which was pretty exciting for this Aussie but the locals seem nonchalant.”
The cold had its benefits for exhibitors. “The cold kept us all lingering longer at the show and we had many conversations in the aisle with fellow Australian distributors, and the odd retailer, about our own neck of the woods and the future of optics locally,” she said. “It’s great to see and hear that its onwards and upwards and there’s excitement and positive energy flowing.
“O-SHOW Melbourne (14 –15 July) and Silmo Sydney (21 –23 July) will be great platforms to catch up with our local fabulous customers and show off the shiny new releases we picked up at Mido… at ProOptics, we’re looking forward to the best year yet!”
Mido 2019 takes place from 23 –25 February.