In the shadow of Italy’s Dolomites mountains sits the Thelios luxury eyewear factory owned by LVMH.
The world’s largest luxury goods group by sales opened the gleaming white and steel building less than a year ago. But projected demand for luxury eyewear, such as €400 Céline cats eye sunglasses, means chief executive Giovanni Zoppas says he is already looking at plans to double the factory in size.
“We are expecting 4 to 5 per cent growth in the industry for the foreseeable future,” Mr Zoppas told the Financial Times on a recent tour. He sees “massive consolidation” reshaping the fashion eyewear industry, shrinking 150 individual brands today to less than 20. LVMH, with its Louis Vuitton, Dior and Céline brands, plans to emerge a winner from this market shift.