He had never succumbed to the temptation of licenses, agreements almost always, at least in the short term, very convenient for a global brand. Nor had he listened to the flattery of the many companies specializing in product categories that require types of know-how other than clothing. For eyewear and especially for Oliver Peoples, a brand owned by Essilux, Brunello Cucinelli made an exception, signing the first licensing agreement in over 40 of the brand’s history. «I prefer to talk about partnership rather than license – explains the founder, CEO and president of the high-end company, listed in Milan since 2012 -. Eyeglasses and sunglasses are an important part of everyone’s look and say a lot about the tastes and personality of the wearer. This is why it was important that the collection was in line with any other Brunello Cucinelli garment or accessory ». Born in Los Angeles in 1987, Oliver Peoples was acquired by Luxottica (now Essilux) in 2007 and has since found a formula, almost an alchemy, to combine the Californian spirit and the quality of Made in Italy.
«The glasses are designed on the American West Coast, but produced in Veneto – underlines Rocco Basilico, CEO of Oliver Peoples -. The first models created with and for Brunello Cucinelli will be on sale from September in our 45 single-brand stores, in Cucinelli boutiques and in a selection of Essilux group wholesale stores ». Cucinelli looks to the future in the short, medium and particularly long term with confidence because, he says, “the recovery in Italy will not only be economic, but also social and cultural”. After twenty years of average annual growth of 12%, in 2020 revenues fell by 10% (compared to more than double percentages for the fashion industry as a whole) and for 2021 Cucinelli expects a 20% increase in turnover, to return, perhaps even improve, the data of 2019, including profitability ratios. His is not only the optimism that must have those who lead a company with 2,200 direct employees and 5 thousand in related industries. “Optimists can also be born and I am lucky enough to have this characteristic – he concludes -. But today it is more important to have hope in the future and the desire to dream and design it, as Mario Draghi has said several times ».
Loading…