It’s been a productive month for eyewear manufacturers, as EssilorLuxottica and Marcolin reported key licensing renewals.
First up, EssilorLuxottica and Dolce&Gabbana announced the early renewal of their successful licensing agreement for the development, production and worldwide distribution of prescription frames and sunglasses under the Dolce&Gabbana brand.
EssilorLuxottica is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, frames and sunglasses, with over 190,000 employees across 150 countries, 650 operations facilities and 18,000 retail outlets.
The existing agreement, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2020, and was scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2029, has been renewed and replaced with a new accord, lasting 16 years, effective Jan. 1, 2024 until De. 31, 2039.
“Dolce&Gabbana has held a special place in our hearts over two decades,” said Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEO at EssilorLuxottica. “Since our stories intertwined, we have created some beautiful, memorable and innovative frames together, each a ‘made in Italy’ masterpiece. We have cultivated a love, admiration and loyalty among the most discerning consumers, developing a deep trust and respect for each other along the way. Our early renewal signals the strong bond between our companies and the promise that luxury eyewear represents in the decades ahead.”
Alfonso Dolce, CEO at Dolce&Gabbana, says the lengthy renewal came about because of the great success of the partnership over the years.
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“EssilorLuxottica and Dolce&Gabbana have built a powerfully effective partnership over the last 19 years, both in business and creativity,” Dolce said. “Today’s long-term renewal is representative of our shared confidence in the future opportunities from which both parties will benefit as we continue to work together in the years ahead. EssilorLuxottica’s unparalleled know-how in the manufacture of eyewear is matched only by the scale and quality of its global network of retail and distribution.”
EssilorLuxottica and Michael Kors also announced a five-year renewal of their licensing agreement for the development, production and worldwide distribution of prescription frames and sunglasses under the Michael Kors brand.
The renewal will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2025 and cover a period of five years, with an option for a five-year extension. The early renewal, coming almost a year before the expiration of the current agreement, is a testament to the strong confidence and collaboration between the two companies since 2015.
“We’re very pleased with the success of our partnership with EssilorLuxottica over the past 10 years,” said Michael Kors CEO Cedric Wilmotte. “Together, we have grown Michael Kors eyewear into a global business at the leading edge of fashion eyewear while continuing to celebrate the brand’s long and distinctive heritage. We share EssilorLuxottica’s commitment to design, innovation and quality, and look forward to continuing our close collaboration in the years ahead.”
Finally, the global footwear brand Skechers announced it has renewed its long-held licensing deal with the eyewear manufacturer Marcolin (seen in photo at top).
Marcolin and Skechers first formed a licensing agreement in 2014, which has been extremely successful for both companies.
Skechers eyewear achieved record sales of $8 billion in 2023, an increase of 7.5%, thanks partly to the partner’s vast distribution network. They are sold online as well as through approved opticians, in a selection of Skechers shops, which have 5,000 Skechers outlets worldwide, and in department stores.
For Marcolin, the announcement of this licence renewal comes at a time when the group is preparing for a merger or sale. The company recently renewed a series of key licensing agreements, including two with Tom Ford and Max & Co.