The event in Milan this weekend promises 1200 exhibitors from 50+ countries; among them, international independent brands and creative designers will show their latest designs and innovations in a showcase that promises award-winning design, quality and craftsmanship, innovative future-facing collections and the latest trends in eyewear materials….
MIDO 2025 – taking place from Saturday 8th February to Monday 10th February – is billed to be a particularly impressive show in 2025, and THE international fair of the season in which to gain early access to emerging trends in eyewear. This year the event in Milan has unveiled a series of layout innovations. Pavilion 6 at Fiera Milano (Rho) will host the Academy this year, a growing start-up area, and a new “area” or square inspired by Italian village piazzas with a “green” theme. Pavilions 2 and 4 have been “reorganized” say the fair organisers, with the Design area offering space for more exhibitors, larger stands, and new entries.
The Academy, which MIDO calls “a special nonconformist location for all those who make originality their motto” will remain the destination for some of the most outstanding creative labels and designers, including many of our recommended brands and favourite designers, with a huge representation of design work from around the world, including Japan, Italy, Canada and the USA. In this feature, we preview for the first time a few of the releases that you can expect to find at the fair – releasing for the first time. Above: The German 3D printed innovators, You Mawo will show new styles across their collection and a brand new creative piece in the YOUniverse series; they are exhibiting in the Academy. Pictured: a new frame called Tate in their BOLD collection: the style has a striking cat-eye-inspired silhouette and confident lines. Designed to exude power and elegance. www.youmawo.com

In a sneak peek for MIDO from the l.a. eyeworks collection, Kite Tail expresses a flight of fancy, playing with the rigidity of the titanium material with extraordinary finesse to create something wavy and organic! The frame is a limited edition, and a gorgeous complement to the new collection which we are told will be primarily acetate. www.laeyeworks.com

For 2025, the Italian artisan brand, REWIND is expanding its Swarovski crystal line with geometric patterns and light effects that enhance elegance and refinement, with crystals precisely placed to add a touch of brilliance without being excessive. “We really believe that jewellery decoration is coming back,” co-founders Patrizia Puliti and Paolo Corradossi told Eyestylist. “That’s why we are launching new decorations on some of our most iconic models.” www.rewindeyewear.com

Diffuser Tokyo, the Japanese accessories specialists, will also be showing in the Academy. This brand has a huge selection of cool and beautifully made items for carrying and storing frames – all of which feature high quality materials. Among the new things to see is the Triangular Prism Bag in leather (pictured above). This bag has a compact design suitable for daily use that can be worn around the body with a strap. It can hold three different items such as eyewear and a mobile phone. www.diffuser-tokyo.com

The Italian company LOOK will be showing a range of sports-inspired designs, in the context of athleisure. These include TRI-X, a concept frame composed of only three pieces. The NIL front is joined to 3-D printed temples that feature an innovative hook system that connects the temple to the front and eclipses traditional hinges. The company will also show a re-edition of a sport utility frame which has been reproduced in cutting-edge materials. For more information about the ranges at LOOK, visit www.lookocchiali.it

J.F. REY have announced an extensive sunglasses collection for men and women, inspired by the enduring qualities of icons. The Bridget sunglasses stand out for their bold proportions and interesting triple layering of the acetate material….giving striking looks to the structure and the colours of the frame. Find out more at www.jfrey.fr

Sea2see will show their new Breeze Ultralight collection at MIDO 2025, produced in 100% recovered marine plastic, with properties of exceptional lightness, durability and extensive colour variation –and – for the temples, 90% recycled stainless steel. By exploring minimal lines and paring back the fronts of the frames to create refined yet easy-to-wear shapes, this line offers a new opportunity for all-day comfort and ease-of-wear, with an aesthetic that is both contemporary and minimal and suitable for everyone. www.sea2see.org

Komono has announce they will show a new line featuring optical and sunglass styles in Acetate Renew called Zero Gravity, inspired by the water’s shape-shifting movements in space. The designs distort and flow with organic elegance. Each style is named after water in different languages – Yoruba, Turkish, Japanese and Maltese. www.komono.com
MIDO takes place from 8th February to 10th February at Fiera Milano (Milan, Italy). For more information and to register visit www.mido.com – For Eyestylist.com updates about new releases among the independent brands at MIDO, follow us here and on Instagram at @eyestylistmagazine.