MARCEL WANDERS HONORARY MEMBER OF THE JURY A FORWARD VISION FOR EYEWEAR HERITAGE
Milan, 26 May 2016 – Marcel Wanders will be the honorary member of the jury that will judge and select the winning projects for the scouting contest A forward vision for eyewear heritage, a partnership project among Safilo – the fully integrated Italian eyewear creator – and L’Uomo Vogue.
Marcel Wanders will chair the contest jury together with Luisa Delgado, CEO of Safilo, and Franca Sozzani, editor in chief of Vogue Italia and L’Uomo Vogue. Noted for being one of the most prolific product and interior designers working today, Marcel Wanders has recently collaborated with Safilo by creating an exclusive eyewear collection of optical and sun styles, blending his own sophisticated designs with Safilo’s premium quality and expertise.
“It is so important that we give young designers every opportunity to showcase their desire to create. A contest such as this allows the world to take notice of Safilo and amazing talent that might otherwise go unnoticed,” says Marcel Wanders.
“We are very proud to count on Marcel in our jury. Safilo and Marcel Wanders partnered for the exclusive Safilo Eyewear Collection that we launched earlier this spring, and have seen Marcel’s talent inspire eyewear in new-to-the-market ways”, adds Luisa Delgado, CEO of Safilo. “Marcel will make a unique contribution to our Award selection of talents to really lead the future".
Safilo and L’Uomo Vogue’s first-ever scouting initiative and mentoring project in the eyewear industry was launched in February to find and nurture the next generation of eyewear experts. The application deadline has been extended to June 30th. Open to all designers passionate about eyewear, the submission process requires a resume or portfolio, product sketches and a possible moodboard.
Open to young creative talents passionate about eyewear, and in collaboration with some of the most prestigious international schools of design, the contest aims to support innovative design, which takes here the role of catalyst and innovation driver, creating new contexts and defining new product Reinventing modernity through tradition: In Safilo, a strong commitment to traditional craftsmanship is key for its extraordinary rich design to have worldwide resonance and create future sustainability.
For the complete contest regulations, please visit: www.safilogroup.com/forwardvision.
Safilo Group is the fully integrated Italian eyewear creator and worldwide distributor of quality and trust, leader in the premium sector for sunglasses, optical frames and sports eyewear. Design inspired and brand driven, Safilo translates extraordinary design into excellent products created thanks to a superior craftsmanship expertise dating back to 1878. With an extensive wholly owned global distribution network in 39 countries – in North and Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific and China – Safilo is committed to quality distribution of its products all around the world. Safilo’s portfolio encompasses Carrera, Polaroid, Smith, Safilo, Oxydo, Dior, Dior Homme, Fendi, Gucci, Banana Republic, Bobbi Brown, BOSS, BOSS Orange, Céline, Fossil, Givenchy, HUGO, J.Lo by Jennifer Lopez, Jack Spade, Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Liz Claiborne, Marc Jacobs, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Max Mara, Max&Co., Pierre Cardin, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tommy Hilfiger. Listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (ISIN code IT0004604762, Bloomberg SFL.IM, Reuters SFLG.MI), in 2014 Safilo recorded net revenues for Euro 1,178 billion.
Marcel Wanders (born in Boxtel, the Netherland, 1963) graduated cum laude from the ArtEZ Institute of the Arts in 1988. In 1995, he opened his studio in Amsterdam, quickly coming to worldwide attention in 1996 for his iconic Knotted Chair, which paired high tech materials with ‘low tech’ production methods. Today Marcel’s powerhouse studio numbers around 50 international design specialists, and he is a prolific product and interior designer and art director, with over 1700 projects to his name for private clients and premium brands. Business Week selected him as one of Europe’s ’25 leaders of change.’ In 2001, Marcel co-founded the successful design label Moooi, of which he is also Art Director. Conceived as a platform for design talents from around the world, today the company works with around 30 designers, has a presence in 79 countries and is renowned for its quirky, eccentric but altogether inspired take on the objects that surround us.