Design Eyewear Group
A Bold New Chapter:
MENRAD and licensing acquisitions signal major expansion
Sometimes the best opportunities emerge from turbulent times. While the eyewear world has followed the story of MENRAD’s insolvency with concern, Design Eyewear Group is writing an entirely new chapter, not only for MENRAD eyewear itself, but also for several of its prestigious licensed eyewear collections.
Starting June 10, Design Eyewear Group will officially take over proprietary ownership of the MENRAD eyewear brand, along with securing new licensed eyewear collections for Jaguar, JOOP!, and Morgan. The move instantly expands the group’s international portfolio and signals a clear ambition to broaden both creative scope and market reach.
A Strategic Move With Global Impact
According to CEO Lars Flyvholm, the acquisition fits perfectly with Design Eyewear Group’s long-term vision.
“This portfolio expansion reinforces our strategy: to offer a diverse, high-quality selection of eyewear brands that resonate globally and reflect individual expression,”
Indeed, this is far more than a simple portfolio expansion. By acquiring MENRAD eyewear’s full design rights and technical assets and entering the world of licensed eyewear collections, Design Eyewear Group is stepping into a new role—one of brand stewardship. The MENRAD eyewear brand holds decades of goodwill, known for skilled craftsmanship and technical innovation, while licensed eyewear collections such as Jaguar and JOOP! already enjoy international recognition.
Honoring Heritage, Driving Innovation
The acquisition comes at a delicate time for MENRAD eyewear’s legacy, but Design Eyewear Group is approaching this transition with care. “The license owners have shown strong enthusiasm for partnering with us—not only because of our distinctive design profile and our ability to translate brand DNA into compelling licensed eyewear collections, but also due to our solid track record, established market presence, and well-developed sales and distribution network in Europe and North America,” Flyvholm notes.
While Germany will remain a key market for the expanded portfolio, Design Eyewear Group sees major growth potential in North America and beyond. The combination of strong brand equity and Design Eyewear Group’s proven ability to scale offers exciting possibilities.
Crafting the Next Chapter
With full creative control over the MENRAD eyewear brand and a new collaborative approach to licensed eyewear collections, the next phase of product development will be crucial.
“We’re committed to working closely with license owners, combining their deep brand knowledge with our strengths in product development and distribution,”
As work begins across these collections, one thing is clear: Design Eyewear Group is entering a bold new phase. The addition of MENRAD eyewear and these globally admired licensed eyewear collections will only strengthen the company’s mission: to offer exceptional eyewear that speaks to individual identity while honoring the spirit of each brand.
About Design Eyewear Group
Design Eyewear Group is a visionary Danish eyewear company that brings together a curated family of international eyewear brands, each with its own creative identity. The group specializes in designing and distributing quality eyewear collections that combine Scandinavian innovation with global style influences.
Its portfolio includes the distinctive brands Face à Face, ProDesign Denmark, WOOW, Inface, Nifties, William Morris London, Alium, Kilsgaard, and Charles Stone New York, as well as newly acquired collections: the MENRAD eyewear brand and the licensed eyewear collections for Jaguar, JOOP!, and Morgan.
With this expanded portfolio, Design Eyewear Group offers a rich variety of styles, appealing to diverse tastes and markets.
More on Design Eyewear Group
FACE A FACE x Jessica Poundstone // Sculpting Emotion Through Colour
For its 30th anniversary, FACE A FACE partners with American artist Jessica Poundstone in a radiant collaboration that transforms emotional colour into bold eyewear design.
WOOW // Play With Sport
Ready to exceed your limits? WOOW’s new collection, inspired by the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, features the STEP UP and JUMP JUMP frames—designed to celebrate ambition, energy, and everyday wins.
FACE A FACE // Celebrating 30 Years of Fearless Design
FACE A FACE celebrates 30 years of avant-garde design by unveiling FACES—an anniversary concept blending architectural boldness with artistic expression. Designed in collaboration with American artist Jessica Poundstone, this limited-edition collection pays tribute to the brand’s iconic design language while propelling it into a daring new chapter.
Face á Face 3.0 // New York Celebration!
This year, FACE A FACE is turning 30. Three inspiring decades, looking towards the future, building on the foundation that they crafted.
EDW 2025 // Top10 Must-See Brands
From March 13 to 15, New York City transforms into the ultimate optical arena as Eyewear Design Week brings together a re-imagined show experience across multiple showrooms. With events like LOFT, EYEcons, and Thelios, this citywide gathering offers unparalleled opportunities for optical retailers to explore the finest independent eyewear. To help you navigate the scene, we’ve curated a Top 10 Shortlist of must-see brands, ensuring you uncover the most exciting and innovative eyewear collections. Let us guide you to the hidden gems that will define the future of eyewear.
VEE 2025 // Top10 Must-See Brands
Vision Expo East will debut in Orlando in 2025 with a re-imagined show experience and abundant opportunities for exhibitors to engage with attendees in a more centralized environment. That’s why we’ve curated this Top 10 Shortlist of must-see independent eyewear brands to help you uncover the best of the show. Let us guide you to the hidden gems you won’t want to miss!
Face a Face // Colour Lab / Over Lap
What happens when colour stops being “just colour” and transforms into a summons of our emotions? For this spring twist, the French brand FACE A FACE takes its experimental quest to new heights, transforming the work on COLOUR FUSION into a full INFUSION.
William Morris // Choose Your London
William Morris crafs eyewear that embodies London’s dual character — where the raw, artistic East meets the sophisticated, elegant West.
Prodesign // The Essence of Danish Design
Prodesign Unveils its 2025 Collection: A Celebration of Craftsmanship and Bold Design. A new era of eyewear design excellence with Prodesign’s 2025 collection, a masterclass in innovation, premium materials, and striking aesthetics.
Face a Face // Colour Lab / Over Lap
What happens when colour stops being “just colour” and transforms into a summons of our emotions? For this spring twist, the French brand FACE A FACE takes its experimental quest to new heights, transforming the work on COLOUR FUSION into a full INFUSION.
Prodesign // When style and technicity converge
Each piece in the latest Prodesign collection embodies their philosophy, spanning from timeless classics to bold, progressive designs. Whether distinguished by a striking appearance or by subtle, innovative details, every Prodesign frame offers a unique style that’s crafted to make a lasting impression.
BRIDGE.pdi // The Power of Nature
Continuing its journey of exploration and self-expression, BRIDGE.pdi has launched its latest collection—an evolution that brings its signature style to new heights. Rooted in the raw beauty of nature, this collection takes a bolder approach, combining natural inspiration with forceful design choices that make each frame a statement piece.
TEF Eyewear Advent // On the 8th day of Christmas
On the 8th day of Christmas, TEFmag presents to you, a concept that brings out firework-like shades and a teasing puzzle of colours; GLIMPS by Face a Face.
FACE A FACE // TEFtalk with designer Claire Ferreira
In this exclusive TEFtalk interview, we sit down with Claire Ferreira, the creative force behind FACE A FACE, to explore the dazzling world of the brand’s latest COLOUR LAB / OVER LAP collection.
DANCE // A creative collaboration between French and Danish designers
Design Eyewear Group is thrilled to announce the launch of DANCE, a distinct new drop of eyewear born from a rare in-house creative collaboration between French and Danish designers. This dynamic fusion fuels the creative spark of designing eyewear and drives creative momentum.
Silmo d’Or // Nominees 2024 edition
A not-to-be-missed event since its launch in 1994, the SILMO d’Or rewards and celebrates the talent and creativity of an entire industry every year. The SILMO d’Or awards are the ultimate recognition of ingenuity and inventiveness. Here are the nominees...
Woow Eyewear // Get ready for the WO’Olympics
Is it a coincidence that the double O in WOOW seems to resemble the rings of the Olympics in Paris? Certainly not! At least, that’s what the designers of the French brand thought, proudly displaying this joyful, festive, and Olympic spirit through a new collection of eyewear and sunglasses that pays homage to the prowess, nobility, and creativity of the games hosted by the city of Paris in 2024.
WOOW // WOOW-HOO: LET’S FUNK !
Whether SUPER SOUL with a shape reminiscent of a jazzy silhouette or SUPER HIP HOP in hip shapes and shock colours… These new sunglasses designs will make you hit the ground in style, in a whirlwind of deliciously retro positivity!
Enjoy the ride, dare to shine and dream big. Make every day a party with WOOW!
FACE A FACE // JAPAN NOW !
New sunglasses, new passion! Continuing their cultural and artistic journey, our friends at Face a Face explore a unique group, namely its Japanese designers, gradually leading the Frech brand towards contemporary Japanese design. This new aesthetic permeates the...
Face a Face // Japan Now!
New season, new passion! The designers at FACE A FACE continue their cultural and artistic exploration of the Italian MEMPHIS movement and discover a surprising connection with contemporary Japanese design. With Shiro Kuramata, an unprecedented poetic element suddenly...
