In the Italian eyewear industry, the United States has been the main outlet market for years and one of the most competitive. After a 2024 closed just below the record levels of the previous year and a 2025 with signs of slowing exports, this year the positioning of Made in Italy in the USA has become an important issue for the economy, the enterprises of sector and also the institutions. Also for this on March 4, on the eve of the New York Eyewear Design Week, Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with ANFAO, the association that represents the Italian producers of optical articles, has launched “REFLECTIONS – Italian Eyewear Exhibition”, a platform of meeting between Italian companies and American operators.
The event is hosted at the IAC Building, a building designed by Frank Gehry at 555 West 18th Street, an exhibition area of more than 800 square meters: it will be a way to intercept buyers, retailers, distributors, industry press and influencers already present in the city for the week dedicated to the design of the eyewear, scheduled from 5 to 8 March, combining commercial meetings and artistic installations to enhance a sector, that of the most advanced Italian eyewear. Approximately fifty qualified operators, including retailers, buyers and distributors, selected by ICE to be part of the hosting program curated by the agency, ready to confront and meet the main actors of the American distribution.
The idea is to create an experience that strengthens the idea of the eyewear as a cultural and design object, in a location that already conveys avant-garde dimension thanks to futuristic architecture, with curved glass facades and a 36-metre LED wall to project high-definition promotional campaigns.
In 2024 the Italian exports of eyewear reached 5,09 billion euros, in a slight decrease (-1,16%) regarding the record of 2023. In the first ten months of 2025 the section recorded a -4% value compared to the same period of the previous year.
The United States remains the first reference market, with 15.2% of total exports (over 640 million euros), but the figure marks a significant decline, also due to the uncertainty linked to commercial duties and the slowdown in consumption in the premium segment.
The response of ICE and ANFAO seems in this phase of uncertainty is to strengthen the reputation and direct relationship with key opinion business leaders, to defend market shares and open new collaborations.
L’articolo REFLECTIONS brings Made in Italy glasses to New York proviene da IlNewyorkese.
