Silmo: Licenses to kill

Licensed eyewear has been big business for decades, so it should come as no surprise that some of the owners of brands have looked to have a bigger piece of the pie. The only surprise should be how long it took them.

Eyewear brand licensing clearly offers significant rewards but in recent years the risks have become more evident. In 2014 when fashion house Kering made the decision not to renew its Gucci distribution agreement with Safilo, the industry was rocked. Despite an agreement for Safilo to continue manufacturing Gucci eyewear, the effects continue to be felt by the Italian producer.