Marchon Eyewear and Paul Smith, Britain’s leading independent design company, announced that they have entered into an exclusive, long-term global licensing agreement.
Marchon was previously responsible for the distribution of Paul Smith eyewear in North America. Under this new partnership, Marchon will now oversee the design, manufacturing, and global distribution of the brand’s eyewear collection beginning January 2023.
Paul Smith sun and optical styles will be designed with a classic yet modern approach, featuring the distinct signature styling and the organic color palette Paul Smith is known for.
“Marchon is very proud to partner with Paul Smith, an iconic brand with timeless styling,” said Thomas Burkhardt, President of Marchon Eyewear, Inc. “We look forward to contributing to the brand’s future growth around the world, while strengthening our offering within the luxury eyewear segment. The new collections will be offering new eyewear styles that will uniquely capture the essence and exceptional quality of the Paul Smith brand.”
“We are delighted to be embarking on a new global eyewear partnership with Marchon. Harnessing their expertise in manufacturing and distribution and bringing our own unique approach to design and creativity, we have every confidence it will be a prosperous collaboration.” Ashley Long, Managing Director, Paul Smith Ltd.
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. announced the launch of its newest innovation, ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day contact lenses and ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day MULTIFOCAL contact lenses for presbyopia.
Designed with a combination of new technologies to help meet the needs of digitally intense lifestyles: TearStable™ Technology and OptiBlue™ light filter. TearStable™ Technology is designed to maximize tear-film stability and lock in moisture for exceptional all-day comfort.The OptiBlue™ light filter has the highest-level blue-violet filter in the industry at 60% to reduce light scatter for exceptional visual clarity, day to night. In addition, ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day lenses block 99.9% UVA rays and 100% UVB rays.
“Life has changed, post-pandemic. With more time spent on digital devices, we designed these contact lenses by listening to patients and eye care professionals’ feedback to address lifestyle requirements and help prevent dry and tired eyes from becoming normalized,” said John Buch, OD, Senior Principal Research Optometrist, Johnson & Johnson Vision. “Our new ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day contact lenses help reduce discomfort by providing visual clarity with new technologies to filter blue-violet light, which comes from many sources, including digital screens and travels in short wavelengths and scatters more which can lead to eye discomfort and quality of vision.”
For patients with presbyopia, ACUVUE® MAX 1-Day OASYS MULTIFOCAL contact lenses provide crisp, clear vision at all distances and in all lighting conditions, as well as all-day comfort. The lenses combine the same two powerful technologies – TearStable™ Technology and the OptiBlue™ light filter – plus PUPIL OPTIMIZED DESIGN technology, which tailors 100% of parameters to pupil size variations across both age and refraction compared to less than 2% for the leading competitor. This is the same technology that is available across all ACUVUE® Multifocal contact lenses.
Earlier this year, ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day and ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day MULTIFOCAL received U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) clearance, Health Canada approval and completed CE Mark activities for its latest contact lens innovation.
Evolution is inevitable in any industry, and the Canadian optical industry is no different. In the past few years, consolidation and competition have increased. Many of the ophthalmic labs used by clinics and retailers have made the decision to move their manufacturing from domestic to international.
Following its acquisition of Allied Lab in 2008, in 2015, FYidoctors moved its lab into a new state-of-the-art facility located in Delta, British Columbia. Since then, FYidoctors has grown significantly; today the lab is manufacturing an impressive 12,000 to 13,000 pairs of glasses per week. In the past three years alone, approximately $10 million have been invested in the facility, becoming a true differentiating factor for FYidoctors. Under one roof, the lab manufactures the highest quality lenses and coatings using the newest and most innovative technologies available.
Nancy Morison, Vice President of the Delta Ophthalmic Laboratory
We met with Nancy Morison, Vice President of the Delta Ophthalmic Laboratory. An industry veteran, Nancy is leading FYidoctors’ Delta team and building a culture of excellence to ensure our patients and clients receive the highest quality glasses in the Canadian market.
What differentiates FYidoctors and the contribution of the Delta Lab?
‘’First, we are a fully vertically-integrated company, and we are still here in Canada! By this, I mean that many competitors are now producing lenses offshore, and many other labs have scaled down in recent years. It became increasingly popular to manufacture in China, India, and Thailand, among other places, to decrease costs. We produce approximately 2,500 pairs of custom glasses per day, and we are open 6 days a week, 24 hours per day.’’
“We also use the highest quality materials, coatings, and machinery and have developed profound expertise in supply chain optimization. Whether it is for our exclusive frame line, Sacori, or for more than our 3,000 frame selection, our lens quality sets us apart and showcases the excellence of our products.’’
‘’Lastly, we invest in technology: it is part of our DNA. Today, we have been told that we are the most technologically advanced optical lab in Canada. Why? We are choosing not to offshore manufacturing internationally and instead are make significant technology investments in our own backyard at Delta to be highly competitive in the Canadian marketplace. Having leading technologies and an optimized supply chain in our own house allows our organization to be highly efficient on labour and shipping/importing costs.’’
In the past three years, the investments in the Delta lab have been significant; what are the technologies you are using?
‘’We are not using only one technology, but we are using all the best technologies available to us, giving us the capability to produce the best product. We have a unique approach: we pick leading technologies, suppliers, raw materials, and designs, from Schneider generators and polishers to Satisloh coatings, processes and chambers and MEI edging equipment, to full software integration from clinic to lab to key partners. Combined, this ensures cost efficiency, amazing products and outstanding service for our clinics and stores and ultimately our patients.’’
FYidoctors has a robust, healthy culture, and it seems that you were able to create an excellent work environment at Delta. Can you tell us more?
‘’The FYi culture is very much based on coaching: we share our knowledge and insights daily with our teammates. We have a very cohesive group that enjoys helping and working closely together. Our coaching culture and mindset are very different from other manufacturing and distribution environments that I have seen. We care about the product, the quality, and choose to make ourselves available to allow the success of our operations. We have also seen tremendous growth powered by our ever-expanding clinic network and our supply chain investments. As I like to say, growth builds optimism, and optimism and continuous improvement are key to our culture. ‘’
Marchon Eyewear announced a new collaboration with Eastman, a global specialty materials company. Marchon will be the first global eyewear company to use Eastman’s Tritan Renew for both frames and tinted lenses in the same eyewear in their sunwear collections across their broad portfolio of prestigious fashion, lifestyle, and sport brands.
Tritan Renew is a sustainable copolyester material powered by Eastman polyester renewal technology, a molecular recycling technology that transforms hard-to-recycle single-use waste into its basic building blocks so that they can be used to recreate pristine, durable, and high-performance materials, offsetting the use of fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
By adopting Tritan Renew for frames and tinted lenses applications, Marchon will be maintaining their commitment to sustainability bringing key benefits to consumers.
Creating new life for old waste- By using as much as 50% certified recycled content*, Tritan Renew reduces landfill scrap, while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel usage compared to traditional materials, creating a circular production process.
Sustainability without compromise- Tritan Renew is indistinguishable from virgin, fossil-based materials, assuring wearers of the same durable, high-quality, superior frames and lenses they expect from Marchon Eyewear. In addition, lenses made with Tritan Renew are compatible with a wide variety of frames including those made from acetate.
“We are very proud to build on our partnership and continued collaboration with Eastman,” said Nicola Zotta, President and CEO of Marchon Eyewear, Inc. “With Tritan Renew, we are able to offer customers more sustainable options in eyewear, without compromising the quality of our frames and lenses.”
“We are delighted to see our partnership with Marchon growing with the introduction of Tritan Renew, including its use for frames and lenses in the same eyewear.” said Glenn Goldman, Commercial Director, Eastman Specialty Plastics. “By adopting Tritan Renew for frames and lenses after having successfully launched collections in Acetate Renew, Marchon is scaling up their impact and showing real leadership in sustainability for the eyewear industry.”
Beginning in 2023, Marchon will produce sunglasses and ophthalmic frames and tinted lenses with Eastman’s Tritan Renew, further asserting Marchon’s commitment to social responsibility and bringing more sustainable practices to the eyewear industry.
Etnia Barcelona presents “Dream”, the new campaign for the launch of its FW22 Collection. The campaign is sophisticated and brimming over with glamour. Blocks of top-quality acetate combine vibrant colours to create a provocative look.
The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) was recognized as a Cochrane Eyes and Vision (CEV) Center for Evidence-based Vision Care during Academy 2024 Indianapolis, November 6-9, 2024.
K-774’s retro-inspired look features patterned base acetate and custom lamination on the temple, creating a striking look where colours blend seamlessly.
Delve into the world of night vision technology. From thermal imaging to infrared systems, explore how these innovations improve our ability to see in the dark.
The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) was recognized as a Cochrane Eyes and Vision (CEV) Center for Evidence-based Vision Care during Academy 2024 Indianapolis, November 6-9, 2024.
K-774’s retro-inspired look features patterned base acetate and custom lamination on the temple, creating a striking look where colours blend seamlessly.
Delve into the world of night vision technology. From thermal imaging to infrared systems, explore how these innovations improve our ability to see in the dark.
The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) was recognized as a Cochrane Eyes and Vision (CEV) Center for Evidence-based Vision Care during Academy 2024 Indianapolis, November 6-9, 2024.
K-774’s retro-inspired look features patterned base acetate and custom lamination on the temple, creating a striking look where colours blend seamlessly.
Delve into the world of night vision technology. From thermal imaging to infrared systems, explore how these innovations improve our ability to see in the dark.
The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) was recognized as a Cochrane Eyes and Vision (CEV) Center for Evidence-based Vision Care during Academy 2024 Indianapolis, November 6-9, 2024.
K-774’s retro-inspired look features patterned base acetate and custom lamination on the temple, creating a striking look where colours blend seamlessly.
Delve into the world of night vision technology. From thermal imaging to infrared systems, explore how these innovations improve our ability to see in the dark.
