Marchon Runs Philathropic Project for Artists

"Marchon, a New York City-based eyewear distributor, takes on a philanthropic project annually. Focusing on local and regional artists, the company looked for artists who work with repurposed materials. Marchon scouted [Steve] Wipfli’s booth and invited him to participate in 2015’s challenge," notes the Toledo City Paper. '"They asked, "Would you be interested in creating a piece of art from materials that we would send you?,"' said Wipfli. 'I agreed, and got a box in the mail that included lenses, frames‚ the side-bows to frames, their catalogues, promotional materials, old cases, sample lenses with different tints— all kinds of stuff. I was to make a sample piece in a month or two. After a few weeks, I got the email back saying I was one of the artists accepted.' For the next step, Wipfli had to transform his preliminary sample into a larger, more finished piece." Read more.

Wipfi's winning work.

New Isidora Eyewear from Marchon

"The embodiment of subtle elegance and sophistication, the new Isidora models are characterized by the light, airy feel that is the Maison’s signature," notes Midwest Lens. "The captivating feminine shaping is enhanced by the use of details and colors inspired by Chloé collections, creating an effortlessness and contemporary attitude." Read more.

Nike and Marchon Release Fall Sunglasses Collection

"This season, premium eyewear brand Nike Vision announces the launch of its Fall 2015 SB sun collection. Comprised of six styles, the product array builds on the Spring ’15 inaugural collection that featured the Nike Volano, Nike Volition, Nike Achieve and Nike Recover. New styles for Fall include the Nike Unrest and Nike Flatspot. The collection rolls out to consumers this month and will be available at select Nike Vision retailers." That's the beginning of the Midwest Lens post. Read more.

Kevin Durant Releases Eyewear Collection with Nike

For Fall 2015, Nike Vision and professional basketball player (and 2013-2014 Most Valuable Player) Kevin Duran is now has expanded their eyewear collection. The 2013-2014 NBA Mos Valuable Player's collection is comprised of three adult styles and three children's styles. The eyewear's colors are patterned after the star's newest sneaker, the KD8. The styles will retail for less than $200. Nike Vision created 35 numbered leather boxes with KD's logo and signature, correlating directly to Durant's jersey number 35. Marchon will reward kit number one to a lucky winner, via a sweepstakes on the Nike Vision web site. Fans can enter by submitting their e-mail address beginning on September 21, 2015. Entries will close on October 31, 2015 at 11:59PM EST. One winner will be randomly selected. No purchase necessary. Durant will receive kit number 35, and the remainder will be available at select retailers.

Cole Haan Launches Eyewear Line

"We are delighted to announce the launch of Cole Haan eyewear and our global partnership with Altair. The team at Altair immediately understood the extraordinary notion of the Cole Haan brand. They have developed a collection that is both iconic and timeless. Our customers all over the world will love what Altair has accomplished," commented David Maddocks, CMO & GM Business Development at Cole Haan in a recent press release. Altair, a division of Marchon, will distribute the collection in optical chains, specialty retailers, independent eyecare practices and Cole Haan retail stores beginning fall 2015. Read more.

New Flexon Kids Eyewear from Marchon

"The new Flexon Kids Eyewear Collection seamlessly blends supreme durability with the latest fashion trends, thus creating must-have frames that can withstand kids’ daily accidents. Flexon is a titanium alloy, which, unlike other metals, can “remember” and return to its original set shape even after it bends and twists. With Flexon, parents can rest easy knowing their children’s frames are hip enough for their youngster and resilient enough to handle everyday wear and tear," according to Midwest Lens. "The collection features four metal front frames paired with a stainless steel temple core and a high-quality rubber temple sleeve. A wide array of colors featured in a cool, playful camouflage pattern sets the tone for this fresh, vibrant collection for both boys and girls. The modern shapes and colorful palette are highly appealing to kids ages 3 to 10, who want a fun and sporty vibe." Read more.

VSP's Marchon Working on a Eyewear That Tracks Health

"VSP Global...has built a pair of glasses with activity tracking sensors built in. The project, called Project Genesis, comes out of VSP’s innovation lab The Shop," notes Mobi Health News. "'We’re looking at a really exploding market in the wearable space,' VSP Global CEO Jim McGrann told the Wall Street Journal in a recent video interview. 'One of our businesses is an eyewear company and we’re focused on building those wearables into the eyewear that people wear every day to improve their overall health and wellness. The glasses track steps, calories burned, activity time and distance traveled, all from a chipset built into the earpiece. The glasses, built by Marchon, another VSP company, look just like regular glasses. But they connect via Bluetooth to a smartphone app, where wearers can look at an aggregate view of their metrics." Read more.

Marchon Licenses MCM Eyewear

"Marchon Eyewear, Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of quality eyewear and sunwear, and MCM (Modern Creation Munich), a global manufacturer of luxury leather goods, apparel and footwear, announced an exclusive global licensing agreement that will grant Marchon the rights to manufacture and distribute the sun and ophthalmic collections under the MCM brand," says Midwest Lens. "The first deliveries will launch in March 2015 with a “Made in Italy” sunwear capsule collection, available exclusively across the MCM worldwide boutique network. The launch represents the beginning of a partnership between these two global players in the fashion business." Read more.

Ferragamo Extends License with Marchon

"The Salvatore Ferragamo Group and eyewear licensee Marchon Eyewear, Inc., have signed a five-year extension on their eyewear licensing agreement," reports WWD. "The deal enables Marchon to continue its design, distribution, marketing, and sale of Ferragamo-branded eyewear until 2021." Read more.

New Kids Eyewear from Marchon

"The modern shapes and playful color combinations in the new MarchoNYC Eyewear Collection are highly appealing to kids who want a fun and trendy look. Not only fashionable and eye-catching, the collection is also durable, featuring premium construction and spring hinges to withstand kids’ daily mishaps." That's the start of a Midwest Lens post. Read more.

Marchon Signs Licensing Deal with MCM

Marchon Eyewear, Inc.,  and luxury goods producer MCM (Modern Creation München) have an exclusive global licensing agreement. It gives Marchon the rights to manufacture and distribute the sun and ophthalmic collections under the MCM brand, which Marchon plans for new month with a sunglasses capsule collection. In September, Marchon will launch the MCM eyewear collection in Asia, with a global roll-out planned for January 2016. Read more.

New Sean John Eyewear from Marchon

"With a modern approach to classic styling, the new Sean John Eyewear Collection [from Marchon] draws inspiration from vintage looks while adding a unique, urban chic touch. Sophisticated color palettes, fashionable styles, and edgy metal details create a sense of luxury." That's the start of the Midwest Lens write-up. Read more.

New Eyewear from Marchon

“There is no doubt that New York City has one of the most beautiful, unique and famous skylines in the world. Some of humanity’s most impressive engineering achievements can be seen here, creating an effect that is artistically pleasing. And, much like the city itself, the skyline is always changing,” notes Midwest Lens. “That is why New York City’s skyline has been chosen to celebrate the trendy and strikingly diverse new eyewear collection from MarchoNYC. Always evolving and creating new designs, the latest MarchoNYC collection represents the diversity of the city and the individuals that inhabit it. Shot from the rooftop of the famed Starrett-Lehigh Building, enjoy a closer look at the collection and all of the beauty and history this city skyline has to offer.” Read more.

Marchon Inks Licensing Deal with Etro

“Marchon Eyewear is pleased to announce the launch of the new Etro Eyewear collection, beginning in September 2015,” according to a VSP press release. “Etro and Marchon signed an exclusive licensing agreement to design, manufacture and distribute the sun and ophthalmic collections Etro Eyewear. The partnership aims to further increase the already significant position of Etro in the accessories world.” Read more.

Who's the Marchon Person Behind the DVF Google Glass?

Muller and von Furstenberg
with their Google Glasses

"Leslie Muller, Marchon’s Vice President of Design, helped to create the new frames at the eyewear giant’s Midtown Manhattan design center," reports Beta Beat. "Marchon also handles vision insurance and optics, so the DVF collection includes not only sunglasses, but also glasses that can hold a prescription lens. In fact, Marchon has long partnered with Google to provide vision care insurance. We caught up with Ms. Muller to find out what it was like to create the DVF Glass line, and what she thinks the future holds for eyewear in general." Read more.

Von Furstenberg and Others Team Up with Google Glass

"There's only so much Google can do to dress up (or hide) the chunky metal object protruding off of a Glass wearer's face," writes the website Fast Company. "Certainly more frame options in different shapes, sizes, and colors will appeal to a broader set of people. But will this partnership help Glass overcome its cyborg reputation, when not much else has worked? The initial frames, which came out in January, were a huge step up from naked-Glass. This doesn't push the needle too much further. Nor does the mere attachment to DVF's brand guarantee success. Since its inception, Glass has made alliances with the fashion world. Diane Von Furstenberg has already collaborated with Glass, having her models walk the runway with the face accessory. That, plus a spread in Vogue, plus a push at fashion week, haven't diminished the curse of the Glasshole. What makes this DVF partnership any different than those efforts? Google, to its credit, has not given up on the fashion angle. Earlier this month, the company hired marketing fashion guru Ivy Ross to improve Glass's mass perception. Ross has worked with Calvin Klein, Swatch, Gap, Coach, and others. This DVF collaboration will likely be the first of many brand partnerships. Google's deal with eyewear giant Luxottica suggests Glass frames will eventually be available in many varieties at a mall near you." Read more.


This came in later from VSP Global: Today, Diane von Furstenberg and Google join forces to launch the DVF | Made for Glass collection, a collaboration that melds the boldness and creativity of Glass Explorers with the confidence and independence of the DVF Woman. The brands first collaborated on a short film “DVF Through Glass” which provided an insider’s view of Diane von Furstenberg’s Spring 2013 runway show. The limited edition collection of frames and shades is a watershed moment between technology and fashion. Read more.

A few days later, Marchon received this coverage from Newsday: "The DVF | Made for Glass collection, the first line of designer frames for Glass, is the product of a partnership between Google Inc. and fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, who has had a licensing agreement with Marchon since 2009 to manufacture her eyeglass designs. Marchon, which was acquired by California vision care company VSP Global in 2008, is the third largest manufacturer and distributor of eyewear in the world, with combined net sales of about $1 billion a year." Read more.

New Eyewear from Marchon

"Marchon has chosen Central Park to celebrate its rich, stylish and beautifully diverse MarchoNYC Eyewear collection," writes Midwest Lens. "Eastside, Westside, Uptown, and Downtown--each each series is individually unique but all come together in one special way: MarchoNYC Eyewear is proudly reflective of the life and style and look of New York City, typified by the eclectic mix of experiences that is Central Park." Read more.

Two Suits Among Marchon, Allure, MEI 3D, and Gunnar Optiks Dismissed

Marchon Eyewear, Allure Eyewear, MEI 3D, and GUNNAR Optiks, have entered into a confidential settlement that fully resolves two lawsuits pending between the parties. The lawsuits have been dismissed. Read more.

Lagerfeld & Elkann Team Up

“Karl Lagerfeld, who frequently sports sunglasses with velvety frames by Italia Independent, is now really seeing eye-to-eye with Italia founder Lapo Elkann,” reports Women’s Wear Daily. “The two men are to collaborate on a capsule collection of sunglasses and optical frames, WWD has learned. Marchon, Lagerfeld’s eyewear licensee since 2008, and Italia Independent Group are to unveil today a two-year agreement that starts in October.” Read more.

Fendi to Break Up with Marchon and Hook Up with Safilo

Safilo Group and Fendi will hook up with a licensing agreement for the design, production and worldwide distribution of Fendi sunglasses and optical frames, valid until December 31, 2022. Read more. 

The partnership will begin at the beginning of next year when Marchon’s licensing agreement with Fendi will expire. Marchon and Fendi partnered up in 1991, beginning with a regional license for the Western Hemisphere. In 2005, the license expanded to include all global markets. Read more.