K-Way steps decisively into eyewear with Marcolin

After testing the waters in the past, K-Way is making a decisive entrance into the eyewear segment by teaming up with Marcolin. K-Way, founded in France, owned by Italian group BasicNet, and renowned for its famous nylon windcheaters, and eyewear producer Marcolin, owned by French investment fund Pai Partners, have jointly announced “an exclusive licence deal for the design, production and worldwide distribution of K-Way sunglasses, eyeglasses frames, skiing goggles and children’s glasses.”
 

The six-year licence deal will start on January 1 2025 and end on December 31 2030. K-Way’s first glasses collection will be unveiled in Italy at the Mido eyewear show, scheduled on February 8-10 2025. The K-Way eyewear collections will be distributed worldwide via select specialised retailers.
 
This isn’t K-Way’s first foray into eyewear. The brand debuted in 2013 via a collaboration with Italia Independent, and is currently selling a handful of basic glasses models. The partnership with Marcolin is K-Way’s first major structured deal in the segment, and is set to enable the brand to broaden its product range. Over the years, K-Way has launched lines of apparel and accessories, including bags and footwear.

K-Way is a good catch for Marcolin, whose licence portfolio comprises several prestigious brands, like Adidas, Guess, Harley-Davidson, Max Mara, Timberland, Tod’s and Tom Ford. The new partnership will allow Marcolin to extend its reach, “consolidating its presence in the lifestyle segment by collaborating with a brand that perfectly combines a sporting DNA with a fashion attitude,” it said.
 
Marcolin, which according to various market sources is up for sale, has been extremely busy in recent months, renewing its licence agreements with Skechers, GCDS, Zegna, Max&Co. and Pucci. It will also spearhead the launch of the first eyewear line by Louboutin, and bought the Ic! Berlin brand at the end of 2023.