FERRAGAMO AND MARCHON IN LICENSING AGREEMENT
Salvatore Ferragamo SpA, holding company of the Ferragamo Group, one of the leading players in the global luxury sector, has signed a licensing agreement with Marchon Group to design, promote and distribute worldwide sunglasses and ophthalmic frames for both men and women. The Salvatore Ferragamo eyewear collection will debut at retail January 2012 and will be sold in Ferragamo shops, department and specialty stores, and select optical shops worldwide.

V.P.I. DISTRIBUTES LAURA BIAGIOTTI EYEWEAR

V.P.I. Canada Limited has been appointed exclusive North American distributor for Italian-made Laura Biagiotti Sunglasses. Consisting of 15   styles for women of all  ages, the collection features colored enamels with Swarovksi stone accents.

SMILEN SIGNS WITH U.S. ARMY
Smilen Eyewear has signed a trademark licensing agreement with the U.S. Army, via the Beanstalk Group, to produce eyewear, sport frames and ready-made readers using the U.S. Army trademark(s). Distribution will be throughout the United States, its territories and possessions, and Canada. Proceeds from sales of U.S. Army licensed products provide support to the U.S. Army licensing program, and by federal law, all net revenue must be devoted to U.S. Army morale, welfare and recreation programs.

POLAROID LAUNCHES ECO-FRIENDLY SUNGLASSES

As part of the company’s commitment to the environment, innovation and technology, Polaroid Eyewear is an official sponsor and sunglass supplier to PlanetSolar, a boat that set a goal of sailing around the world using only solar power. Along the way, it offers educational exhibitions on exploring better ways to protect our planet. In conjunction with this project, Polaroid has developed special edition PlanetSolar sunglasses. The frames are made primarily from eco-polymers derived from castor oil plants; the lenses are Polaroid’s latest UltraSight gray mirror lenses made of polymers derived from cotton and wood-based celluloses created FERRAGAMO AND MARCHON IN LICENSING AGREEMENTby using the company’s proprietary Thermofusion production technology. 

—Gloria Nicola