At the heart of Italian eyewear production

As you drive through the foothills of the Dolomite Mountains, looking at snow-capped peaks and wide, dried rivers, it’s hard to imagine that one of world’s largest eyewear manufacturers and distributors is headquartered here.

That is, until a valley opens up to reveal a large industrial estate, and one of the largest buildings is emblazoned with the Marcolin logo. As you meander around the estate to get to the HQ, you notice, Safilo, De Rigo and a collection of independent eyewear manufacturers. This is the heart of Italian eyewear production.

Marcolin is a company on the move. Since 2012 when the company was bought and delisted by PAI Partners, it has increased turnover from €204m to €432m in 2015. The number of frames sold per year has tripled, from 4.5m to 14.2m and there are now more than 2,000 styles launched every year compared to 800 in 2012.