Safilo

Safilo Group S.p.A. (acronym of Società Azionaria Fabbrica Italiana Lavorazione Occhiali) is an Italian company that designs, produces, and distributes prescription frames, sunglasses, sports eyewear, ski goggles and helmets, and cycling helmets under its own five house brands and 32 licensed brands, including Smith Optics since 1996. Safilo's products are manufactured in its own Italian facilities, with additional plants in China and the United States. In the recent years Safilo sold or closed several of its plants, Martingnacco, Italy in 2020, Ormož, Slovenia in 2021, and Longarone, Italy in 2023. According to the 2023 Annual Report Safilo has wholly owned subsidiaries in 40 countries and more than 50 distribution partners in 70 countries. Safilo has operated as one of the largest companies in the eyewear industry. The company traditionally trailed Luxottica, later EssilorLuxottica, as the second largest company, though slipped to third when both LVMH and Kering began manufacturing eyewear for its brands rather than having Safilo produce eyewear for their fashion houses; Kering Eyewear subsequently became the second largest in 2022.