EssilorLuxottica’s roots are anchored in a centuries-old history covering all aspects of the eyecare and eyewear industry: design, production, distribution and innovation.
With brands such as Essilor (1849), Salmoiraghi & Viganò (1865), Persol (1917), Ray-Ban (1937), Luxottica (1961) and now GrandVision (1891), the Group brings together extraordinary entrepreneurial stories that make it unique. This reunion of long-standing expertise and know-how, along with a legacy of great leadership and design, inspires the Group today and carries it forward for the future.
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Leonardo Del Vecchio (1935-2022)
Entrepreneur at heart, pioneer of the optical industry, Leonardo Del Vecchio was the main architect of the creation of the EssilorLuxottica group and its Chairman until his passing in 2022. Having started as an apprentice, he created Luxottica in 1961, beginning a unique industrial adventure. His life was guided by the desire for independence and integration of the entire industrial chain of eyewear from design to distribution. A visionary, he signed his first license agreement with Giorgio Armani in 1988, anticipating that eyeglasses would evolve from a necessary medical device into a desirable fashion accessory. By purchasing LensCrafters in 1995 and Ray-Ban in 1999, he became the first manufacturer to directly enter optical retail. Finally, by working to bring Essilor and Luxottica closer together, he created an integrated, world-leading group in his sector. Throughout his life, he demonstrated that determination, courage and the pursuit of perfection are key to establishing a leading group. His strong spirit, vision and human values are today hallmarks of the EssilorLuxottica Group.