Luxury eyewear producer Marcolin SpA has launched Diesel Shades into travel retail – a completely new sunglasses range for the Diesel fashion brand.
Speaking to The Moodie Report at the TFWA World Exhibition in September, Duty Free & Travel Retail Manager Chiara Polverini said: “We are now launching a limited edition of Diesel sunglasses at the same time as the new [Diesel] Loverdose fragrance is being introduced.”
The Diesel range is targeted at three segments of the market:
– Male DNA, comprising biker styles;
– Female DNA, featuring matt black sunglasses;
– Young and sporty, incorporating multi-coloured lenses.
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Diesel Shades model number DL0003 |
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Diesel Shades model number DL0028 |
Turning to the Swarovski licensed brand, Polverini said: “We have also completed the first year of the Swarovski sunglasses business and we are very happy with the results. We are showing the new Swarovski collection here at the Cannes show.”
Marcolin is about to unveil its first airline project, starting with Roberto Cavalli sunglasses exclusively produced for the inflight market. Lufthansa is the first airline to carry the product in its WorldShop catalogue. Polverini described the model, which retails at €190, as “charming, fashionable and with a comfortable international fitting”.
Generally speaking, the company is very satisfied of the growth in the duty free and travel retail business, according to Polverini.
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Diesel Shades model number DL0002 |
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Diesel Shades model number DL0006 |
Diesel Spring/Summer 2012 Shades collection
The Spring/Summer 2012 Diesel Shades collection is the result of a new collaboration between Diesel and Marcolin. Described as “bold”, “rock” and “iconic”, the fashion-forward collection is said to be “defining the vintage of the future”.
LOVE BUG, HEY!HEY!HEY!: Inspired by the most iconic shape of the Sixties, these sunglasses are said to fulfil each summer look, day and night: an oversized round shape, with psychedelic multi-layered mirrored lenses. The silhouette features a super-light frame.
FLIRTINI: Evoking romance and glamour, this heavy design is made from bold acetate in matt and glossy colours: black and brown for a classic look, and khaki and petroleum for a contemporary touch.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Designed for a woman or a man, this model is described as military and vintage, and both matt and shiny. The rivets decoration simulate an overlapped effect and the asymmetric colour finishing is said to imply its versatility. The contrast of shiny and matt material and the contrast colours on frame and temples emphasises its multifaceted design, while embodying the Diesel heritage with its rock-n-roll edge. Black and blue Double Trouble is meant to be worn by men, with the ivory and petroleum model by women, and the military colours (mud, khaki, military green) are designed for both.
STEALING BULLET: Drawing its inspiration from bikers and the lifestyle of an urban rebel, the rivets on the frame seem to be screwed to one another, the treated metal shows contrasting colours, and the head of the iconic Mohican appears on the nose pad and temple tips.
BAD MAX: These aviators have a vintage sporty look, with real treated leather on the side flaps, recalling heritage expedition sunwear. An easy fit shape enriched by side flaps and real treated leather with the Mohican logo tone in tone and rubber detail on the nose, this model is said to fuse authenticity and sport aesthetics.
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Diesel Shades model number DL001 |
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Diesel Shades model number DL0021 |
Excellent results for the first half of 2011
Marcolin SpA recently reported what it described as “excellent results for the first half of 2011, the best ever”.
Sales rose +8% to €125.2 million, ebitda climbed +16% to €24.6 million and net profit was up +11% to €15.9 million.
The company said: “These results are even more remarkable considering that the second quarter was affected by an unfavourable exchange rate between the euro and the US dollar and by cash payouts for stock options that expired in the past three years. Excluding the latter non-recurring event, which represents a cost of €1.7 million, ebitda would have surged by 24% and net profit by 20%.”
The results, it added, “demonstrated the strength of the portfolio brands even in the current market situation”.
“Very satisfactory” performance in Asia
The sales performance was enhanced by the growth experienced by brands in the fashion and luxury segment, some of which recorded double-digit growth, including the new Swarovski line launched on the market at the beginning of the year.
The company reported a “very satisfactory” performance in Asia (+40.4%), which represents a strategic market for the group, and in which the sales structure and distribution network have recently been expanded. The greatest increases were reported in Korea, Hong Kong, India and Indonesia. Sales of the rest-of-world segment were also significant (+26.3%).
Sales in the US rose by 1.2%, affected by the unfavourable exchange rate against the euro; at constant exchange rates, sales grew by 7.0%.
In Europe sales grew by 2.7%, with France, Germany and Spain performing particularly well. Other Mediterranean markets and the UK experienced slowdowns due to persistent economic difficulties in those areas.
The company said the excellent results were achieved mainly as the result of:
• Activities undertaken in previous periods to improve margins by placing a greater focus on product costs, internal production and quality, and efficiency;
• Improving the efficiency of inventory management, resulting in fewer unsold products;
• Greater sales of products with the new brands that yield higher margins.
About Marcolin
Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, Marcolin is a leading eyewear company in the luxury market. In 2010 the company distributed an estimated 5.5 million pairs of eyeglasses and sunglasses in more than 600 models. Its licensed brand portfolio includes: Diesel Shades, DSquared2 Eyewear, Hogan Eyewear, John Galliano Eyewear, Just Cavalli Eyewear, Montblanc Eyewear, Roberto Cavalli Eyewear, Swarovski, Tod’s Eyewear and Tom Ford Eyewear. The group’s own brands include Marcolin and Web Eyewear.
For details, contact Chiara Polverini, tel: +39 0437 777154 or e-mail cpolverini@marcolin.com
Visit www.marcolin.com
