(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK – Marchon Eyewear Inc., manufacturer and distributor of eyewear and sunwear, and Cutler and Gross Ltd., a luxury British eyewear brand, announced that they have entered into an exclusive agreement for Marchon Eyewear to distribute Paul Smith sun and optical eyewear throughout the U.S.
In September 2018, Marchon Eyewear became the exclusive distributor of Cutler and Gross eyewear in the U.S. In December 2018, Cutler and Gross announced that the company had entered into an exclusive license agreement with Paul Smith Ltd. for the design, production and global (except Japan) distribution of the brand’s sunglasses and optical frames.
“We are pleased to extend our relationship with Cutler and Gross, the authority in British Eyewear,” said Nicola Zotta, president and CEO of Marchon Eyewear. “The addition of Paul Smith’s exciting new eyewear designs complement our extensive brand portfolio by offering a unique line of premium, British-influenced optical and sun products, designed by one of Britain’s foremost designers. This new agreement allows us to leverage the scale and expertise of our U.S. distribution network while simultaneously furthering the growth and prominence of Marchon Eyewear, especially in the luxury segment of the market.”
“We have patiently searched for a partner who shares the same ethos as Cutler and Gross, namely, quality of service, well-made product and customer satisfaction,” said Graham Cutler, founding partner of Cutler and Gross. “In Marchon Eyewear, we firmly believe we have found that long-term partner to help us grow and improve our business in the United States. With the experience, expertise and personnel that Marchon Eyewear has on the ground, we are sure we can deliver the best possible service to our customer base there.”
Following the launch of Paul Smith’s much anticipated eyewear collection at MIDO in Milan last month, the line will debut in the U.S. at Vision Expo East 2019 (VEE) in New York City from March 22 through 24. At VEE, Marchon Eyewear will present the new Paul Smith line, as well as the latest optical and sun eyewear from Cutler and Gross, and Italian luxury brand Marni, by appointment only in a dedicated booth (#G475) located in The Galleria. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Lucie Bourdon (lbourdon@marchon.com). Marchon Eyewear’s other brands can be viewed during VEE at booth #1553.
The new Paul Smith eyewear collection features a combination of metal and acetate frames in classic shapes and with subtle design details that tie in with Paul Smith’s hallmark bold colors and tailoring. Every frame is conceived in London and made by hand at Cutler and Gross’ own factory in Northern Italy and fitted with premium lenses from French sunlens manufacturer, Dalloz Creations, giving depth to the sunglass collection. Specially developed acetates from Italian expert, Mazzucchelli, provide a unique palette that follows Paul Smith’s passion for exceptional materials.
Each of the new styles adopts its name from a London street, starting, for the initial collection, at the beginning of the alphabet. The Anderson, a substantial acetate optical, is quintessentially Paul Smith in style, with a keyhole bridge and classic D frame structure. Available in two sizes and an array of colors, it is also the optical of choice for Paul himself. The Askew, a small, fine, metal frame in both optical and sun, is inspired by the fashion customer and was seen on the catwalk at the brand’s most recent show.
Exclusive new features, such as the unique shape of the temple tip taken from the “P” in the Paul Smith logo, which is also inlaid in gold onto each tip, along with the custom metal cores etched with a subtle Paul Smith stripe in the acetate designs, are all elements of Paul Smith branding that run through the frame design and signify the attention to detail that has gone into the concept and creation of the entire collection.
Paul Smith eyewear is now available globally and will be sold in the U.S. in select department stores, specialty stores, and premium sun and optical retailers. The line will also be sold in Paul Smith and Cutler and Gross’ retail locations, as well as online at paulsmith.com and cutlerandgross.com.