Partnership

Essilux, agreement with Dolce&Gabbana until 2050

Extension of the licence agreement for the development, production and distribution of Dolce&Gabbana branded glasses

16 March 2026

Collezioni eyewear e lenti Essilorluxottica, negozio Dolce & Gabbana. (Imagoeconomica)

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

EssilorLuxottica announces the extension of its partnership with Dolce&Gabbana, while the stock remains under pressure on the stock market with the capitalisation falling below EUR 100 billion.

Extended licence

Yesterday EssilorLuxottica and Dolce&Gabbana announced the extension until 2050 of the current licensing agreement for the development, production and global distribution of prescription eyewear and sunglasses under the Dolce&Gabbana brand.

"We are particularly proud of this new agreement because it will allow us to accompany Dolce&Gabbana, one of the most iconic brands in the world to which we are very attached, a unique expression of style, art and culture, on an ideally endless journey. With a time horizon of twenty-five years, the collaboration confirms the evolution of our partnership model, which is increasingly oriented towards the long term, to allow the deep integration of values, strategic visions and product culture and thus generate solid and lasting progress over time," said Francesco Milleri, president and CEO of EssilorLuxottica.

"Since 2004, EssilorLuxottica and Dolce&Gabbana have pursued a solid partnership that combines business results, creative vision and the development of a shared project. The consolidation of this long-term partnership confirms the mutual confidence in the future and in the opportunities that both companies will be able to seize by continuing to work together in the years to come. EssilorLuxottica stands out for its unique know-how in the production of eyewear, for the high quality and ubiquity of its global retail and distribution network, and for its constant focus on technological innovation. Dolce&Gabbana is proud to strengthen this partnership," said Alfonso Dolce, CEO of Dolce&Gabbana.

Group capitalisation under 100 billion

On the stock exchange, EssilorLuxottica shares were down 0.56%.

In the recent period, shares have been affected by the strong euro, uncertainty on the trade front made even more complicated by the latest news on tariffs, and doubts about the prospects for smart glasses. So much so that the group's market capitalisation has fallen below the 100 billion mark.

More generally, analysts are wondering about the prospects for eyewear and, more specifically, smart glasses, a business in which Essilorluxottica currently holds the lead thanks to its collaboration with Meta. New players, however, are entering the market. Not only Apple's products are expected, but also those of the Wall Street-listed eyewear company Warby Parker, made with Google and Samsung. Hence the impression that the complexity of the market may have an impact on the group's performance.

In the background is the uncertainty surrounding the structure of Delfin, EssilorLuxottica's controlling shareholder with 32%. The lack of an agreement between the heirs on governance and articles of association and the fragile shareholding structure are knots on which the market is starting to think at this stage.