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Interview: Lorraine Berton: Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way!

Discover the inspiring journey of Lorraine Berton, President of MIDO and ANFAO, and learn more about our industry’s must-attend event!

Interview by Ali Rhdifa
How did you get in the optical industry?
Lorraine Berton
Let me start from the beginning. I was born in New Zealand and when I was 7 years old my entire family came back to Italy, in the Veneto region, where there were many optical factories, some of which were pioneers in the industry. The area was struggling during that time, with a lack of employment opportunities and an underperforming industrial sector. Many people migrated abroad to America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South America; my family was not into the business but one of my first jobs was doing translation at a local optical factory. This is how I got into the business of eyewear and sunglass frames 45 years ago, and I fell in love with it!
About 10 years later, after getting more involved with the management of the factory, I started asking myself if I wanted to continue being an employee or if I wanted to accomplish more for myself and my family. It was a difficult decision because I didn’t come from a privileged background, but I was inspired by my mother and grandmother, two very strong women that went through a lot. So about 35 years ago, I joined the factory Arlecchino where my sister was already working, and over the years we bought some partners out, and turned it into a company run by two ladies, my sister and myself.
We went through tough times and happy times, and we are still here today, and very proud with what the company has become. I really love my business, not only because of the success we’ve had over the last 15 years, but also because we’re now a large family of 70 employees.
What made you stay in the optical business?
Lorraine Berton
Our product is special, in that it’s a combination of a medical device and a fashion piece. I love the association between these two concepts, which results in a constant push for innovation and originality. Another thing I love about working in the eyewear industry is that it allowed me to travel all around the world, and meet many creators from the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan. This part of my job makes me feel like I’m not limited to my original Belluno province in Italy, but part of a worldwide community of passionate creators. So not only is the product special, but this industry allowed me to grow and discover the world!
Thank you for sharing your remarkable journey, which is very inspiring! And now we arrive at ANFAO, the Italian Optical Manufacturers Association. You became ANFAO’s President a year ago, how do you assess this first year?
Lorraine Berton
Indeed, a year has gone by already and it’s been such an exciting one. ANFAO is like the Polar Star of the Italian optical industry. We are here to support all the Italian factories and manufacturers, small, medium and large. The industry has evolved over the last decades, the process of producing frames, the legal and regulatory environment, the rise of sustainability concerns and environmentally-friendly approaches. ANFAO is here to assist every manufacturer in navigating the ever-changing landscape.
You are the first woman to preside over ANFAO and MIDO, what do you make of this historic moment, and how do you approach your role?
Lorraine Berton
You know, this business is not easy, especially for a woman. But when you have the passion and the will, you can overcome any obstacle! I’m really proud to lead ANFAO today, and open the door for others to follow. I have my own ideas and projects but I have to say that I’m very lucky because my predecessor Giovanni Vitaloni, through his unwavering commitment to ANFAO, MIDO and the whole industry, left a very strong legacy that we can build on!

As a woman, I think I can bring something different to the table. In fact, our MIDO campaign this year is about refocusing on humans. Last year, our campaign was developed with AI, so this year we wanted to reconnect with the human side, celebrate the human creativity that I mentioned earlier. The human takes back the center of the stage, whether it’s the artist that designs the frames, or the wearer whose life is positively impacted by our product. Of course, machines and AI have a role, and we are sometimes caught up with the latest technological developments, which are very frequent nowadays because technology moves at such a fast pace, but the core of our industry is the human side and it will remain that way, we should never forget it. This is what we wanted to highlight through our campaign.

What are ANFAO’s and MIDO’s connections with the Canadian market?
Lorraine Berton
Our Italian industry has a very strong relationship with the Canadian market, and it has always been very strong. Personally I have been working with many major Canadian companies and I can tell you that the Canadian market is special. For us, it’s really different from the US market and very close to our European partners. In some ways we speak the same language when it comes to fashion and trends, I think our tastes are very similar. We are happy and proud to host many Canadian professionals every year at MIDO.
Lorraine, thank you very much for your time. We hope our readers will be inspired by your story as much as we were. Do you have any final message for them?
Lorraine Berton

My message to your readers is that coming to MIDO is crucial for anyone working in the eyewear industry. It is the most international and attractive show in the world, offering a continuously renewed scenario with the most innovative and up to date suggestions and ideas. It is a unique opportunity to do business and meet professionals.

But I would like to share with your readers one more message, according to my experience: to keep moving forward. When I started my incredible journey, I had no money, we came from an underprivileged background, and it was tough for women in this business back in those days. All I had was my heart, my head and my hands. Today I can tell you that, if you have a strong will, good ideas and you’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves, you can achieve anything! Come and share your passion with us at MIDO in Milano!

MIDO 2025 will be held in Milan from February 8 to 10, 2025. For more information, please

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