Milan cycling-eyewear brand founded in 2017, built around a revived 1980s frame mould; frames are designed and handcrafted in Italy for road, gravel and outdoor sport use.
Best for Cycling sunglasses, interchangeable lenses and gravel eyewear
Alba Optics is a cycling and outdoor-sport eyewear brand based in Milan, founded in 2017 around an original eyewear mould from the 1980s that the founders sourced and rebuilt using contemporary materials. Their first model, the DELTA, launched from that revived mould and set the retro-futurist visual language the brand has continued since. The company is based on Via Ponchielli in Milan, with manufacturing in facilities north of the city, and describes every pair as handcrafted in Italy. Despite investor interest, the founders have kept the company self-funded and independent.
Luca Gnecchi Ruscone revived his grandfather's Eritrean optical trade into Italy's cult eyewear house — acetate frames hand-finished in Italian workshops, anti-fashion silhouettes named for African cities, sold from a Brera flagship that feels like a colonial-era study.
Best for Hand-made Italian frames with an East African soul.
Milan swimwear and resort-wear label launched spring 2020, during Italy's first COVID lockdown. Garments are designed and made in Italy; the brand exhibits at Pitti Uomo and focuses on men's swim briefs, shorts, and beach-to-street pieces, not eyewear.
Best for Italian-made warm-weather clothing in breathable natural and technical fabrics
An 'aesthetic eyewear studio' near the Duomo since 1965, Crisafulli Eyewear is a recognised Milan historic shop offering exclusive frames, luxury brands and image consulting. The Galleria del Corso boutique also provides personalised eye exams and lens fitting.
Turin eyewear house founded 1917 — the 649 silhouette with keyhole bridge and Silver Arrow hinge, worn by Mastroianni, defines Italian craftsmanship.
Best for Persol 649 sunglasses and Meflecto optical frames
Persol was founded in 1917 in Turin by Giuseppe Ratti, owner of Berry optical, who created the brand to serve pilots and sports drivers requiring protective eyewear. The name derives from the Italian "per il sole" (for the sun). The legendary Model 649, introduced in 1957, was originally designed for Turin's tram drivers who needed wide lenses to protect against dust exposure. The frame's distinctive features—a keyhole bridge, acetate silhouette, and signature Silver Arrow hinge mechanism—became instantly recognizable. The 649 achieved worldwide cultural prominence when worn by actor Marcello Mastroianni, cementing its position as a cinema icon and symbol of Italian style. Despite acquisition by Luxottica, Persol has maintained production at its historic factory in Lauriano, near Turin, preserving the original manufacturing heritage. The 649 remains one of the most recognizable eyewear shapes globally, balancing heritage aesthetics with contemporary appeal. The brand continues serving customers seeking either classic heritage frames or contemporary designs that reference Persol's founding principles of pilot-grade optical quality and durable construction.
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