- Materialise partners with eyewear leader Safilo for the new OXYDO SS 2017 collection, featuring a capsule collection of 3D-printed frames that turn eyewear into wearable sculptures.
Leuven, Belgium and Padua, Italy – July 20, 2017. The forward-looking made in Italy brand OXYDO goes eclectic, with the disruptive designs of the new OXYDO SS 2017 Collection. This launch marks the first offering from the partnership between Materialise NV (NASDAQ: MTLS), leader in Additive Manufacturing solutions and software, and Safilo Group, the Italian powerhouse behind numerous iconic eyewear brands worldwide. The new OXYDO Capsule Collection is an expression of intent, demonstrating not only what Additive Manufacturing is capable of today but where it could lead the eyewear industry tomorrow.
The ability of 3D Printing to produce complex and organic geometries and remarkably lightweight designs has been well-leveraged by the eyewear industry, to create frames that use less material and increase the wearer’s comfort. OXYDO takes the lightweight characteristic beyond functionality and uses it to mold the vision of tomorrow, resulting in frames that derive from the deep connection with the world of art taking OXYDO eyewear into the realm of wearable sculptures.
New York-based artist Francis Bitonti, who collaborated with OXYDO for design, says, “We focused on leveraging the capabilities of 3D Printing to produce very fine ornamentation while keeping a very minimal silhouette. We were interested in how the next generation of ornamentation might look.”
OXYDO Capsule Collection 2017 offers a disruptive, contemporary and sophisticated interpretation of the Italian fashion aesthetic, combining the classic shapes of round and cat-eye styles with ultra-modern silhouettes achievable only through 3D Printing. The 3D-printed structures that surround each of the frames are produced at Materialise’s Certified Additive Manufacturing facility, which houses machines dedicated to eyewear production. After manufacturing in Polyamide 12, the wearable sculptures are given the multi-step Materialise Luxura post-production treatment to enhance their performance and aesthetic.
“It is always our goal at Materialise to not only meet industry standards but to raise them. With Safilo, and their leadership in the eyewear industry, we have found a partner that values this goal equally,” says Alireza Parandian, head of wearables projects at Materialise. “The eyewear industry and Additive Manufacturing have built a symbiotic relationship, where each helps the other raise its standards and challenge expectations constantly. I’m looking forward to where this partnership leads next.”
About Materialise
Materialise incorporates more than 27 years of 3D printing experience into a range of software solutions and 3D printing services, which together form the backbone of 3D printing technologies. Materialise’s open and flexible solutions enable players in a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, automotive, aerospace, art and design, and consumer goods, to build innovative 3D printing applications that aim to make the world a better and healthier place. Headquartered in Belgium, with branches worldwide, Materialise combines the largest group of software developers in the industry with one of the largest 3D printing facilities in the world. For additional information, please visit: www.materialise.com.
About Materialise’s Manufacturing Division
Materialise Manufacturing empowers 3D printing customers, both rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing, to keep tight production deadlines and meet the quality standards of even the most demanding industries. The division’s designers and engineers work closely with customers to co-create new products and applications that make meaningful use of 3D printing.
Two web platforms, Materialise OnSite for industrial orders and i.materialise for small businesses and consumers, offer easy access to one of the largest and most complete 3D printing facilities in the world. In addition, a certified manufacturing environment caters to customers who operate in highly regulated markets. For more information, please visit: www.materialise.com/manufacturing.
About Safilo Group
Safilo Group is the fully integrated Italian eyewear creator and worldwide distributor of quality and trust, leader in the premium sector for sunglasses, optical frames and sports eyewear. Design inspired and brand driven, Safilo translates extraordinary design into excellent products created thanks to superior craftsmanship expertise dating back to 1878.
With an extensive wholly owned global distribution network in 38 countries – in North and Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific and China – Safilo is committed to quality distribution of its products all around the world. Safilo’s portfolio encompasses Carrera; Polaroid, Smith, Safilo, Oxydo, Dior, Dior Homme, Fendi, Banana Republic, Bobbi Brown, BOSS, BOSS Orange, Céline, Elie Saab, Fossil, Givenchy, havaianas, Jack Spade, Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, kate spade new york, Liz Claiborne, Marc Jacobs, Max Mara, Max&Co., Pierre Cardin, Saks Fifth Avenue, Swatch, and Tommy Hilfiger. For more information, please visit: www.safilogroup.com.
Source: Materialise
