Page 14 - Envision - May June 2020

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ITALY

CRISIS:
in

How the World’s Second-Largest Eyewear

Industry is Surviving COVID-19

Interview

Paddy Kamen
s the world grappled with the Coronavirus
pandemic earlier this year, Envision: seeing
beyond editor Paddy Kamen spoke with
Giovanni Vitaloni, president of MIDO and
Athe Italian Optical Goods Manufacturers’
Association (ANFAO), to learn how the virus was affecting
the Italian eyewear industry.

ENVISION: CAN YOU PLEASE SKETCH THE SCOPE OF THE DISRUPTION TO
THE EYEWEAR INDUSTRY CAUSED BY COVID-19? We now need some good news so we can all begin to get
back on track. We are ready and eager to re-start once
Giovanni Vitaloni: The health emergency has affected markets open up.
every single component of our industry and we are
suffering severe losses. The Italian eyewear industry E: HOW DID THE CANCELLATION OF MIDO UNFOLD?
exports 90 per cent of its production. Our main markets,
Canada and the U.S.A., are locked down. Eyewear exporters GV: We were alarmed when China closed down on January
are facing a 50 per cent reduction in profits 23 and we were forced to cancel plans for MIDO’s Asian
pavilion. Then, just one week before the event — the 50
th
Although Italy’s opticians have been allowed to remain anniversary of MIDO — we had no choice but to postpone
open, there is no demand for their products or services. the show in order to protect exhibitors and visitors. Within
Some are converting production to meet public health a few days we communicated the dates of July, but as the
demands by making protective glasses and masks. This situation worsened throughout the world, we had to make
way, they provide a service to the community, while an even more painful decision: to postpone the 50 edition
th
staying in business. But it’s not enough. of MIDO to February 2021.

14 / MAY — JUNE 2020 / www.ENVISIONMAGAZINE.ca /