Page 105 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition March-April 2021

MIDO GOES
DIGITAL FOR 2021
he leading international event in the
eyewear sector, MIDO in Italy is renowned
Tas an excellent platform for business and
networking, as much as it is about the latest
styles and technological innovations. The
most contemporary developments across the
spectrum, pointers to future global eyewear
trends, cutting-edge designs and innovations
are all prominent at the highly developed show,
mounted in a sophisticated ambience. The
entire global eyewear supply chain is very well
represented, and celebrities too are seen adding
sparkle and glamour.
As the host country and one that is home to
a leading global industry in the optical sector,
Italy’s manufacturing expertise, tradition in
innovation and high-quality eyewear products
are shown to great advantage at the show.
All this will be sorely missed this year as
Milan’s annual international three-day MIDO
event goes online this year, from 5 to 7 June.
On 22 March 2021, in an online meeting with all
the stakeholders of the trade show – exhibitors,
buyers, visitors, opticians and journalists –
Giovanni Vitaloni, president of MIDO, announced
that, at the moment, the situation does not allow
the event to be hosted as was planned.
“It’s now more than a year since the beginning
of the pandemic in Italy and regrettably, the
public health situation, not only in our country, is
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still critical,” stated Mr Vitaloni. “. . . International
travel is currently limited; last October we were
optimistic about the coming months but the
reality is proving to be very different. Trade
shows, at present, are still banned.”
“We have therefore decided not to wait any
longer and to make another tough decision,
dictated by our sense of responsibility towards
exhibitors and visitors, because we believe that
MIDO must continue to be an event that stands
out on the world stage as unique, aware of
its role as the driving force of the economy in
this sector. Our main objective is to safeguard
the international character of the event and
the show itself, to promote and enhance the
eyewear industry and to create important
business and meeting opportunities.”
At the digital MIDO in June, in addition to the
platform dedicated to exhibitors and buyers, the
world industry will be provided the opportunity
to share projects and proposals, reassess the
sector, analyse economic and social themes, and
discuss trends and new developments through
high-profile figures and interactive events.
In addition to all the elements mentioned
underlying MIDO’s success over the last 50 years,
its great asset has always been the presence
and participation of its key players, from 160
countries worldwide.
However, with the current situation being
what it is, the organisers are paying close
attention to the evolution of the pandemic,
constantly monitoring the needs of exhibitors
and visitors. “Obviously, once it is possible to
hold in-person events again, we will not hesitate
to do so,” said Mr Vitaloni.
While everyone in the industry will miss the
excitement and aura of the in-person edition of
the show, hopefully with better days ahead, the
dates to be noted for the 2022 on-site MIDO are
from 12 to 14 February.
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