Italian Sunglasses Brands: Who Really Makes Them

Many of the best-known sunglasses in the world are designed or made by a handful of Italian eyewear groups, most of them born in the same mountain valleys of the Dolomites. This guide sorts out which brands are actually Italian, who owns them today and what to know before you buy a pair in Italy.

Last updated: October 6, 2026

Italian sunglasses brands at a glance

The brands with the longest history

Lozza, founded in 1878, is the oldest Italian eyewear brand still on sale. It now belongs to the De Rigo group, which bought it in 1993.

Persol was founded in Turin in 1917 by Giuseppe Ratti. The name comes from the Italian per il sole, “for the sun.” Luxottica acquired the brand in 1995, and it is still sold as Persol today.

Is Ray-Ban Italian?

Not by origin. Ray-Ban was created by the American company Bausch & Lomb, and Luxottica bought it in 1999. So the brand is American, while its owner today is EssilorLuxottica, the group formed when Italy’s Luxottica merged with France’s Essilor in 2018. Oakley, another American brand, joined Luxottica in 2007.

Why so many come from the Dolomites

Italy’s eyewear industry grew up in the province of Belluno, in the eastern Dolomites. Luxottica started in Agordo, Safilo and Marcolin in the Cadore valley, and De Rigo in Longarone, all within the same province. That is why so many famous frames, including licensed collections for fashion houses, trace back to the same mountain area.

If you are visiting the Dolomites, the Museo dell’Occhiale (Eyewear Museum) in Pieve di Cadore, at Via Arsenale 15, tells this story with more than 4,000 pieces, from early spectacles to factory machinery. Opening days change with the season, so check the museum’s official website before you go. For the area itself, see our Dolomites itinerary.

Italian brand or made in Italy?

An Italian brand name and a “Made in Italy” frame are not the same thing. Many fashion houses license their eyewear to the big groups, which produce collections in their own plants in Italy and abroad. If where the frame was made matters to you, read the marking on the inside of the temple rather than the logo on the outside. Our guide to what “Made in Italy” really means explains what the label guarantees.

Buying sunglasses in Italy

• Most sunglasses are sold in an ottica, an optician’s shop, where staff can adjust the fit for you. Department stores and brand boutiques in the big cities carry them too.
• Keep the receipt. Visitors who live outside the EU can claim back VAT on purchases above the minimum; our VAT refund guide explains how it works.
• Ask whether the frame is a current collection or a past season: shops in outlet centers often sell older models at lower prices.

Italian sunglasses: frequently asked questions

Which sunglasses brands are Italian?

Lozza, Persol, Police and Italia Independent were all founded in Italy, and the big Italian eyewear groups are Luxottica, Safilo, Marcolin and De Rigo.

Is Ray-Ban an Italian brand?

No. Ray-Ban was created by the American company Bausch & Lomb. Luxottica bought it in 1999, so today it belongs to EssilorLuxottica.

What is the oldest Italian eyewear brand?

Lozza, founded in 1878. It is now part of the De Rigo group.

Where are Italian sunglasses made?

The Italian industry is centered on the province of Belluno, in the Dolomites, where Luxottica, Safilo, Marcolin and De Rigo were founded. The groups also produce in other countries, so check the marking inside the frame.

Sources

Company histories checked in October 2026: Marcolin, Luxottica, Safilo, Persol, Lozza, De Rigo and Italia Independent. Museum details from Dolomiti Tourism.