MILAN — Edgardo Osorio’s way of life imaginative and prescient for his Aquazzura model is more and more coming into focus.
After debuting within the hospitality enviornment with a branded bar put in at Rome’s famed Resort de Russie, Osorio is unveiling his first eyewear assortment, which provides to Aquazzura’s equipment providing of , baggage and jewellery, in addition to tableware and residential decor.
Osorio sees the brand new class not solely as a pure extension of the model’s ethos — which is rooted in a La Dolce Vita-inspired glamorous aesthetic and linked to the ocean and sunny locations — but additionally strategic business-wise.
“It’s an ideal alternative to introduce Aquazzura to a broader viewers, with extra accessible entry worth factors and the potential for wider distribution sooner or later. It aligns completely with our DNA and looks like a pure extension of our aesthetic and model way of life,” Osorio informed WWD.
Aquazzura’s Riviera sun shades.
Desiree Mattsson/Courtesy of Aquazzura
He revealed the mission was two years within the making, throughout which “we arrange a devoted workforce and located a boutique manufacturing facility with incredible growth capabilities and high quality, one that would totally interpret my imaginative and prescient for eyewear right into a product that feels distinctive, attractive and splendid.”
Specifically, Osorio tapped a distinct segment, high-end eyewear specialist primarily based in Italy’s Veneto area to fabricate the preliminary assortment, which incorporates three daring designs in several colours, for a complete of eight iterations whose “inspirations vary from Murano glass and chandelier drops to palm timber — all evoking a contemporary Riviera temper.”
Aquazzura’s Palm Seashore sun shades.
Courtesy of Aquazzura
Probably the most placing form is the Palm Seashore rimless type profiled with elongated floral contours, which reference crystal chandeliers and handblown bottles of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Obtainable in a sunset-inspired hue, the retro-glamour sun shades are crafted from translucent nylon and acetate and include textured metallic temples evoking tropical palm leaves.
The oversize “Bella” design presents a bolder tackle the ‘70s aviator type. Crafted in matte or translucent acetate in black, gentle grey or honey hues, it includes a 3D-effect crocodile motif on the higher rim and nostril bridge. The design is additional embellished by intricate metallic detailing on the temples — a component that additionally provides a twist to the “Riviera” cat-eye type in clear and milky two-tone acetates in pink, caramel, black and white.
Aquazzura’s Bella sun shades.
Desiree Mattsson/Courtesy of Aquazzura
“Every part I design is about making a girl feel and look sexier and extra stunning,” Osorio stated. “Once I design footwear, it’s about elongating the legs and making certain the match turns into virtually an extension of her physique. The identical thought course of utilized to the eyewear — it must be attractive and flattering in the beginning. Then, it has to suit effectively, really feel cool and make an announcement.”
“Our eyewear, like our footwear, isn’t about logos — it’s about type and design that talk for themselves,” the designer continued. “In a saturated market, I consider there’s nonetheless room for one thing attractive, fantastically made and wealthy in handcrafted particulars. Immediately’s buyer is on the lookout for one thing past the cookie-cutter, mass-produced — they need unbiased labels that provide true high quality and powerful design.”
Sun shades by Aquazzura.
Courtesy of Aquazzura
As for doing eyewear immediately slightly than by a license, he underscored he “needed to initialize this launch with full unbiased management.”
“Doing it immediately offers us full management over the market and permits us to create a extra layered and restricted distribution. It was important that the product really speaks to and embodies Aquazzura,” Osorio stated. He added he stays open to a possible licensing associate to broaden the eyewear enterprise sooner or later.
Aquazzura’s Palm Seashore sun shades.
Desiree Mattsson/Courtesy of Aquazzura
The three types — every packaged in a tender metallic clutch-inspired case and the model’s signature aqua blue field — will launch beginning subsequent month completely at Aquazzura boutiques and on-line retailer with costs starting from 395 euros and 550 euros.
“We’ll make a full assortment launch for spring 2026, once we confide in wholesale distribution,” Osorio revealed. Till then, restricted drops in new colours will launch within the fall.
Aquazzura’s Bella sun shades.
Courtesy of Aquazzura
Additionally developing are retailer openings that may add to Aquazzura’s present retail footprint of 26 boutiques and 6 shops-in-shop worldwide. New outposts will probably be unveiled in each Madrid and on the Maxx Royal Resort in Bodrum subsequent month, adopted by a unit in Jakarta this fall.
Final yr the model added 10 immediately operated shops in key areas, from resort locations reminiscent of Saint-Tropez and Marbella to new markets like India through a retailer in New Delhi. A robust focus was placed on the Center East, with new doorways in Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, amongst others.
Aquazzura’s Riviera sun shades.
Courtesy of Aquazzura
As Osorio teased to WWD’s sister publication FN in December, when he was honored with the Designer of the 12 months award on the thirty eighth annual FN Achievement Awards, extra class extensions appear to be underway, too. He promised that 2025 goes to mark a turning level for the corporate, teasing it’s going to open a brand new part of development “approach past footwear.”
“It’s the yr the place I actually wish to promote Aquazzura as a life-style model. We’re not going to be only a shoe and equipment model. I wish to promote you a dream. And Aquazzura is the dream of happiness,” he stated on the time.
