Thélios, the eyewear expert of the LVMH Group, has inaugurated a new production facility in Longarone fully dedicated to metal processing.
The newly renovated plant spans 20,000 square meters and employs approximately 400 people, doubling the company’s production capacity and creating an integrated 40,000-square-meter hub that also includes the acetate-focused Manifattura inaugurated in 2018.
This investment strengthens Thélios’ role in the Made in Italy luxury eyewear sector, with over 1,300 employees now working in the area. The opening ceremony was attended by Valeria Mantovan, Regional Councillor of Veneto, and Toni Belloni, Chairman of LVMH Italy.
Strategic Acquisition Preserves Local Expertise and Employment
The new site is the result of a strategic project launched in 2023, which led to the acquisition of the former Safilo facility and the early integration of 250 workers, ensuring the preservation of local expertise and employment.
“LVMH is further reinforcing its presence in Italy through an industrial investment that strengthens Thélios’ infrastructure, a leader in high-end eyewear. Our Maisons seek excellence in every product category, and Italian craftsmanship is ideal when it comes to style, design, and the quality of our eyewear collections,” said Toni Belloni, Chairman of LVMH Italy.
“This inauguration is both an achievement and a new beginning,” said Alessandro Zanardo, CEO of Thélios. “On the one hand, we’re celebrating the revitalization of a strategic production site; on the other, we’re entering a new phase for Thélios, one that enhances processes and synergy between departments. With more than 1,300 employees, Longarone is increasingly becoming the beating heart of our industrial vision.”
Councillor Valeria Mantovan added: “As the Veneto Region, we played an active role from the earliest signs of Safilo’s withdrawal in 2023, stepping in with our Corporate Crisis Unit to ensure continuity of operations and employment. The outcome was Thélios’ acquisition of the site, with the hiring of 250 workers and a commitment to preserving skills and production. This investment confirms the strategic importance of the eyewear district for both Thélios and the LVMH Group.”
With this expansion, Thélios further consolidates its position as a leading player in high-end eyewear, designing, manufacturing, and distributing eyewear for prestigious LVMH Maisons such as Dior, Fendi, Celine, Givenchy, Loewe, Kenzo, Berluti, Bulgari, TAG Heuer, Fred, Stella McCartney, as well as for its own brands Barton Perreira and Vuarnet.
Source: WMido
