SILMO 2001
On with the show
Silmo 2001 carried on despite more Americans staying home
by Marcy Bruch

Visibilia Group's Laura Biagiotti style 85291 comes in gradient gray lenses with a clear plastic frame.

Paris did its part to keep the global economy rolling by going on with the Silmo International Optics and Eyewear Exhibition at Porte de Versailles Oct. 19-22. While many Americans who normally attend the event opted to bow out this year because of concerns following September 11th, exhibitors reported European business was bustling, with 70 percent of this year's attendees hailing from European countries other than France. Attendance was down 19 percent compared to last year, with a total of 22,181 visitors and 952 exhibitors.

Befitting Paris' reputation as the capital of style, innovative design abounded throughout the trade floor. Of note was the preponderance of soft-hued, rimless shields. Many had either subtle flash mirror coatings or bigradient lenses. Perhaps the most fashion-forward color of all was no-color gray, which was featured prominently in rimless shields at many booths.

Finally, numerous manufacturers have decided to give the double-laminate trend a run for the money by focusing on transparent crystal frames for a fresh look in plastics.

	The Lance Armstrong Pro M frame for Oakley won a Silmo award in the sport sunglass category.

Of course, Silmo wouldn't be complete without its 8th annual Grand Prix Silmo Awards, which honors outstanding eyewear design. This year's Silmo award winners are as follows: Eye'DC style #1611 won for outstanding design in the sunglass frame design category; Oakley won in the sport sunglass category for its Lance Armstrong Pro M frame; winning in children's frames was Trent for its Lilliput frame style; Theo was the recipient of the best frame design award for its HH Eye Witness frame; Logo of the Americas won the technical eyewear innovation award for its TAG Heuer Physics 1003 frame style. In the instruments/accessories category, Swarovski won for its modular video entitled, Couleur; In lenses, BBGR won for its Evolis lenses; and Face � Face won in the eyewear environment category for its "Presenting 2001" point-of-purchase materials.

In business news at Silmo, the European manufacturers Moulin, Metzler, and Filos announced their merger and formation of European Eyewear. The company's most recently acquired license is Revlon; other licenses include Krizia and Vivienne Westwood.

Although Silmo had to weather a slowdown in show traffic due to the fall's tragic events, organizers said the show must go on. And judging by the fresh infusion of product, the eyewear industry benefited greatly from their decision. Next year's show is slated to take place October 25 to 28.