Copenhagen rallies independent eyewear sector

Opticians from across Europe, South Africa and the US descended on Copenhagen last weekend for the fourth edition of eyewear design show, Copenhagen Specs.

Held at the city’s Locomotive Venue events centre, the show brought together 87 eyewear exhibitors from around the world showing nearly 150 brands in 9,000sqm of industrial space, with uniform wooden stands a minimalist aesthetic.

Copenhagen Specs founder Morten Gammelmark said the event’s spirit of independent eyewear had particular resonance in 2017, following recent industry news such as the Essilor and Luxottica merger.

Gammelmark said Essilor, which booked its space at the event prior to the announcement of the merger, would join a list of companies that included Luxottica and Safilo, who would not be allowed to exhibit at the show in future because they did not meet his independent entry criteria.