Luxottica, founded in 1961, became the world’s largest glasses manufacturer.
Italian entrepreneur Leonardo Del Vecchio established the company in Agordo, in the province of Belluno, an area known for eyewear production. Luxottica initially focused on manufacturing components and frames before expanding into complete eyewear, retail, and licensing.
Its growth came through both acquisitions and vertical integration. The company built a large portfolio of optical and sunglasses brands and operated major retail chains, allowing it to control several stages from design and production to store sales.
In 2018, Luxottica merged with Essilor, the French lens specialist, to form EssilorLuxottica. The merger created one of the world’s largest optical companies. Luxottica is sometimes confused with a single sunglasses label, but it is principally a major eyewear manufacturer and corporate group.