Marcolin

Marcolin SpA is an Italian eyewear manufacturer founded in Veneto and headquartered in Longarone. Started in 1961 by Giovanni Marcolin Coffen, it owns and licenses twenty-five different brands, including Tom Ford, Adidas, Skechers, Christian Louboutin and Max Mara.[1][2]

Except for 2020, its annual revenue grew every year between 2013 and 2022 – in the latter year, it reached €547 million. In December 2025, California-based VSP Vision announced it had completed the purchase of Marcolin,[3] which had been majority-owned by PAI Partners since 2012.

History

Founded in Veneto in 1961 by Giovanni Marcolin and originally known as Fabbrica artigiana, it began by manufacturing gold-laminated temples on eyewear. Expanding into the US in 1968 and opening offices in France, Switzerland, and Germany, it was already producing one million frames per year by the 1980s.[4]

By 2012, Marcolin was Italy's third largest eyewear manufacturer, behind only Leonardo Del Vecchio's Luxottica and the Safilo Group. It was around this time that a majority stake in Marcolin was acquired by the French private equity firm PAI Partners, initially at 78% but increasing to 83% in December 2019.[5] By 2018, Marcolin has claimed to sell 14.6 million eyeglasses that year.[6]

Subsequently, the company sold 10% of its shares to the luxury conglomerate LVMH when it partnered with the French group and founded the in-house eyewear manufacturing company Thélios, in which it held a 49% stake. In December 2021, the firms separated, with Marcolin buying back LVMH's stake while transferring its share in Thélios to the French company.[7][8]

Also in 2021, Marcolin acquired the German eyewear manufacturer Ic! berlin.[9] Three years later, its shareholders sought a valuation for the manufacturer, attracting acquisition proposals and interest from several companies in the sector.

With Thélios being the only major rival not mentioned as a potential suitor, Kering and EssilorLuxottica were leading bidders for the company – although offers from Safilo, Marchon Eyewear, De Rigo and Hong Kong-based private equity firm FountainVest Partners were also considered.[5][10]

After announcing the takeover of Marcolin from the French company PAI and its minority shareholders in September 2025,[11] VSP Vision completed the purchase of the Italian firm three months later.

Brands

Marcolin's proprietary and licensed brands include:[12][13][14]

• Abercrombie & Fitch
• Adidas
• BMW
• Christian Louboutin
• Gant
• GCDS
• Guess
• Harley-Davidson
• Ic! berlin
• J Landon
• Kenneth Cole
• Marciano
• Max Mara
• Max&Co
• Pucci
• Skechers
• Timberland
• Tod's
• Tom Ford
• Web Eyewear
• Zegna