Balenciaga Inks Eyewear License with Safilo

Balenciaga, the Paris house that boasts the most sought after show invitation in fashion, has inked a long-term eyewear license with Safilo.

The announcement of the five-year agreement comes nine months after Safilo produced three models of shades used in Balenciaga’s spring summer 2007 show, staged in Paris last fall.

Two of those shades were developed specifically for that catwalk event while the third was a re-edition of a vintage pair first made by Balenciaga in the 1970s. Balenciaga’s artistic director Nicolas Ghesquiere has built the label into one of the most sought after in fashion precisely by mixing path-breaking designs and succinct re-interpretations of ideas from the Balenciaga archives. Couturier Cristobal Balenciaga founded the house in Paris in 1937.

“This is a wonderful base from which we look forward to consolidate the partnership between our creativity, the very high quality of Safilo’s products, and the clear selectivity of their distribution,” said Isabelle Guichot, the recently appointed President and CEO of Balenciaga.

Under the terms of the deal, Safilo will handle the worldwide production and distribution of Balenciaga eyewear.

The mini three-piece collection is already available in Balenciaga’s directly owned franchise stores in Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, Singapore and Dubai, as well as the label’s specialty and department store points of sale worldwide.

Plans are now to distribute a complete sunglass range starting in Autumn 2007, with optical frames to follow, though with a far larger distribution via Safilo’s network.

“We are particularly pleased about the opportunity to work with such a distinguished and influential name in fashion… Balenciaga will allow us to reach a specific and refined customer who values quality particularly highly and, for this reason, is selective,” said Safilo Group Chairman Vittorio Tabacchi.

The deal further cements Safilo’s links with the Gucci Group, since the Italian eyewear specialist already produces and distributes Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Bottega Veneta, all brands that are part of the luxury conglomerate, the world’s third largest.

Safilo, which also makes eyewear for Giorgio Armani, Dior, Banana Republic and Marc Jacobs, is an industry leader in this sector. It recently announced a 13% rise in first quarter sales to 341 million Euros, or $460 million.

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