The busy Milan event this month saw new momentum in eyewear innovation and design driven change in the industry with regard to environmental issues – independent eyewear brands exhibited bold, creative concepts, new sustainable ideas and a considered approach in many cases to quality design and traditional craftsmanship
Mido 2025 has been billed as an outstanding success: in the words of Lorraine Berton, President of MIDO and ANFAO, an edition that was all about “business, networking and fresh ideas”. For those seeking inspiration, innovation and design ideas, the event served up a huge opportunity to review new directions, material developments, sustainable progress and style ideas in many different segments of eyewear design, including sport, fashion and luxury.
Independent brands and creative designers offered an extraordinary breadth and quality of design, with a large number of these companies and new emerging labels exhibiting in the Academy and Start-up area this year. Above: Nina Mûr’s outstanding new Pearl Eyes collection features sinuous shapes and organic lines. The frames incorporate a unique element – authentic certified river pearls are embedded in each design
Pearl Eyes by Nina Mûr offers an uninhibited artistic expression, fusing playfulness with elegance and exploring new possibilities through striking natural materials, always in line with the sustainable ethos of the brand. www.ninamur.com
Colour stories at Mido were intriguing, with many new colour directions emerging in different ways depending on the materials and textures explored. Colours with obvious links to fashion and the Pantone colour of the year for 2025 – Mocha Mousse were prevalent, as were bright vibrant tones offering individuality and exciting expression. All the classic eyewear colours are also well represented this year with tortoise tones, Havana, brown hues and lots of new greens proposed across the board. We noted a very attractive terracotta tone appearing frequently, as well as other natural hues inspired by nature, natural textures, minerals and marble. There were multiple examples of playful work on surfaces, texture and contrasts between shiny and matt finishes, once again.
The frame pictured above is a new round style in the Mosaico series at Italian brand, Lamarca Eyewear. The colour combination in Mazzucchelli acetate plays with classic tones and trendy crystal grey, www.lamarcaeyewear.com
Ørgreen Optics showed a bold sunglasses collection, offering a revitalised approach to colour and lens innovation. Known for its minimalist design and technical precision, Ørgreen is now setting its sights on redefining how its sun collection blends style and functionality. The new palette features a trio of concepts: Essentials, timeless classics such as matte black and deep brown; Accented Colours, versatile yet muted tones like soft blue; Seasonal Highlights, trend-driven hues, including sage green and vibrant pink. www.orgreenoptics.com
Featured in the interesting Start-Up area of the Mido show this year, the independent label Glacier Optics showed an inspiring collection of sports frames. First launched in 2020, the frames have been designed specifically for mountain activities and developed for use in the Alps. All the parts and accessories have been carefully sourced locally in Switzerland, France and Italy and the frames have a distinctive design and quality of style thanks to the co-founders’ decade-long experience working in the outdoors industry and a particular passion for and expertise in snowboarding and skiing. Find out more about the brand at www.glacieroptics.com
Austrian eyewear innovator ROLF took away another CSE award at the Mido event, winning the European category for their 3D printed sustainable eyewear collection. ROLF continues to offer a wide selection of frames in natural materials including wood and stone, produced to the highest levels of craftsmanship and design quality. www.rolf-spectacles.com
Mido saw collection presentations by many new and emerging companies with a particular specialisation and design direction. They included Hibang from Taiwan, a small label which has already won an iF Design award for their screw-free “modular” style frames, made with parts that can easily be swapped and replaced without tools, extending lifespan and promoting sustainable design. All the frames are produced in a sustainable material created from discarded fishing nets.
According to the organisers of MIDO 2025, this year the three-day international event welcomed over 42,000 attendees, from 168 countries, and 1200 exhibitors (of which about 930 were international) in 7 pavilions and 8 exhibitions areas at Fiera Milano Rho.
Eyestylist was privileged to return to the Mido event this month and learn about important developments in design, technology and sustainable eyewear. This article is a first commentary on what we have reviewed at Mido. Further highlights on the collections in 2025 will be featured on Eyestylist.com in the coming weeks and months. Mido 2026 takes place from 31st January to 2nd February 2026 at Fiera Milano Rho. Find out more about Mido at www.mido.com