Page 66 - The Indian Optician Digital Edition May-Junel 2022
P. 66
IN-CONVERSATION WITH
MATTEO
MOHWINCKEL
Matteo Mohwinckel, is the International MM: Founded by Lapo Elkann, Italia
Sales Director at Italia Independent, a listed Independent was launched on 9 January 2007
th
company that is one of the top sunglass during Pitti Uomo (a bi-annual gathering that
and eyeglass frame design and distribution draws varied retailers, among other enthusiasts,
companies. It boasts numerous commercial from around the globe for fashion, accessory
collaborations, including companies whose core collections etc) in Florence. Italia Independent is
business is not eyewear, thanks to its expertise a brand of creativity and style for independent
in product design. Italia Independent is an people that combines fashion and design,
independent model that focuses on creative tradition, and innovation.
ability, qualitative product development, and
wholesale distribution. The Indian Optician Italia Independent’s portfolio includes the
recently got an opportunity to have a brief brands owned by Italia Independent and Laps
chat with Matteo and get an insight about the Collection, as well as licensed brands: Hublot
reputed company. Read on to learn more about (LVMH group) and CR7 – Cristiano Ronaldo
this celebrated brand….. (debuting in the eyewear sector).
Italia Independent Group was listed in June
The Indian Optician (TIO): Let us start with a
brief introduction of yourself. You are presently 2013. In that same year, it won the Ernst & Young
serving Italia Independent as the International award for ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’, having
sales director. What do your current taken a short number of years to achieve a
responsibilities entail? measure of success in a traditional industry,
thanks to an ability to work on the uniqueness of
Matteo Mohwinckel (MM): Since October its products and its promotion of beauty as a key
2020, I have been responsible for the distribution factor in the success of Made in Italy products.
of our collections worldwide, research, selection,
and management of new distributors and key Italia Independent received recognition
accounts. I have also been directly handling from MIT Technology Review Italia, the Italian
the management of the sales force for all the edition of the authoritative Massachusetts
markets. Institute of Technology magazine dedicated
to technological innovation. Our brand was
TIO: You do have a vast experience in included in the ‘2014 Top Most 10 Innovative
the optical sector! Could you please share a Italian companies in the “Smart & Disruptive”
brief profile of your company for the benefit category. The award acknowledged the results
of our readership? achieved in the field of research and innovation
62 THE INDIAN OPTICIAN MAY-JUNE 2022 INTERVIEW
