Swarovski has made a strategic shift in its eyewear collaborations by moving its partner production from Marcolin to EssilorLuxottica. The Austrian luxury house announced a decade-long partnership with EssilorLuxottica to design, manufacture, and distribute its sunglasses. The collaboration signals a new phase for Swarovski’s eyewear, aiming to elevate its presence in the luxury segment and broaden its global reach.
The initial collection, crafted under the direction of creative leader Giovanna Engelbert, is slated to debut in the fall of 2023 and will hit retail in September. The move aligns Swarovski with a company known for its expansive eyewear capability, premium quality control, and a history of integrating fashion-forward design with precise optical engineering.
Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEO of EssilorLuxottica, commended Swarovski’s strong design language and meticulous attention to detail. “We have always viewed each frame as a wearable work of art, and the Swarovski legacy fits seamlessly with that philosophy,” Milleri noted. This sentiment underscores a shared commitment to craftsmanship and brand heritage in the luxury eyewear space.
With the new agreement, Swarovski aims to reinforce its status within the luxury fashion eyewear market, leveraging EssilorLuxottica’s global manufacturing network, distribution channels, and retail reach. The partnership is expected to enhance product innovation, enable more efficient production cycles, and provide broader access to Swarovski’s signature clarity and sparkle through refined eyewear designs.
Historically, Swarovski eyewear has been produced by Marcolin since 2011, a collaboration that helped shape the brand’s optical identity over more than a decade. The shift to EssilorLuxottica represents a significant but strategic transformation as Swarovski seeks to align more closely with a vertically integrated leader in eyewear that can accelerate growth across regions including North America and Canada.
Industry observers note that this move could influence luxury eyewear trends, particularly in how fashion houses partner with manufacturers to balance high-end design with operational scalability. The collaboration with EssilorLuxottica is expected to bring enhanced materials, faster time-to-market for capsule collections, and broader retail visibility in the premium eyewear space. press release and Swarovski corporate communications.