Kering Eyewear expands manufacturing expertise with Italian lens manufacturer Lenti
Another month, another acquisition. This time, Kering Eyewear sets its sights on the very heart of the lens world, acquiring Italian lens manufacturer Lenti.
The deal is not just about expanding capacity, it is about consolidating expertise. With this move, the luxury group brings yet another layer of manufacturing under its own umbrella, fortifying its ambition to fully master every component of the eyewear it sells.
A Strategic Leap Beyond Safilo Ties
Founded in 1996 and until now a part of Safilo’s industrial ecosystem, Italian lens manufacturer Lenti operates from Bergamo with around 100 employees. The company specializes in moulding and surface treatments for sun lenses, visors, and protective components used across eyewear, automotive, motorcycle, and lighting industries. In other words, it holds coveted know-how in creating high-performance lenses that blend technical precision with visual clarity.
For Kering Eyewear, which already commands an impressive portfolio of luxury brands including Gucci, Cartier, Saint Laurent, and its proprietary LINDBERG and Maui Jim, this acquisition brings one critical process in-house: the development of Made in Italy sun lenses with uncompromising quality and innovation.
“We have appreciated the excellence of Lenti’s products for many years, and we are very proud to see it now joining Kering Eyewear, providing an additional area of expertise to our platform of best-in-class manufacturing skills, facilities, and, more than anything else, talents.”
It is clear that this acquisition is no simple expansion. It is part of a carefully executed industrial development strategy. Over the past few years, Kering Eyewear has consistently pursued vertical integration to shield its operations from the volatility of external suppliers. From acquiring frame factories to now securing expertise in lens manufacturing, the company is building a robust, fully controlled supply chain that leaves little to chance.
About Kering Eyewear
Kering Eyewear is an Italian eyewear conglomerate that specializes in the development, production, and distribution of high-end optical and sun frames for a curated selection of iconic fashion houses. Founded in 2014 by Roberto Vedovotto as part of the global luxury group Kering, the brand manages eyewear lines for maisons such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Cartier (via a joint venture with Richemont). It is the first company to bring eyewear fully in-house within a luxury group, establishing a new benchmark in how fashion eyewear is built and distributed.
What sets Kering Eyewear apart is its vertical integration and maison-focused approach. Rather than following the traditional license model, the company handles every stage—from creative design to prototyping and global distribution—under one roof in Padua, Italy.
This unique structure allows each collection to remain fully aligned with the parent fashion house, resulting in eyewear that feels like a natural extension of the brand’s DNA. Close collaboration with artistic directors ensures authenticity, while advanced R&D facilities and in-house prototyping deliver speed, consistency, and technical precision.
Kering Eyewear continues to push boundaries through strategic innovation, most recently by partnering with Google to develop AI-enhanced smart glasses. This venture into extended reality represents the next step in its evolution, merging high fashion with next-generation technology. With a commitment to creativity, precision, and innovation, Kering Eyewear is shaping the future of the luxury eyewear industry from within.
Read more about this brand on TEF Magazine or visit their website.
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