Industry News
Italia Independent Announces Eyewear Licensing Agreement with Cristiano Ronaldo
Italia Independent Group S.p.A. announces that its owned eyewear company Italia Independent S.p.A. and Cristiano Ronaldo's brand have agreed an exclusive five-year global licensing agreement for the creation of eyewear collections licensed under the CR7 brand.
The first CR7 eyewear collection has been entirely inspired by, and designed for, Cristiano Ronaldo and will be unveiled as worldwide preview at MIDO 2020. The collection will be available to purchase starting from mid 2020.
Lapo Elkann, founder and creative director of Italia Independent, said: "Today is a historic date both for myself and for Italia Independent. Closing this deal for a CR7 eyewear license is extremely important to the growth of our company. Our modus operandi has always been based on creativity, quick execution and a forward-looking approach, and as such, we have been able to secure successful deals with international brands, such as the CR7 brand. Cristiano is already worldwide known as a football legend who has scored over 700 goals, won five Champions Leagues and been awarded with five Ballons d'Or, but Cristiano is first and foremost an exceptional human being. And being able to work with him makes me very proud and happy. I cannot wait to get started on this project together, and I am sure that we will embrace the task with both passion and perseverance, two values that Cristiano embodies better than anyone I know. I am confident that we will work on a number of exciting projects with both Cristiano and his exceptional professional team in the future".
Marco Cordeddu, CEO of Italia Independent added: "Having a brand in our portfolio that bears the same name as one of the greatest football champions of all time is a great honour for our Company. CR7 put a lot of confidence in us with this challenging project and I can assure that Italia Independent will work hard to achieve the results and the international market visibility it so deserves. Both the traditional sales channels and the digital ones will be ready to distribute the CR7 sunglasses collection at a worldwide level in order to please Cristiano's incredibly strong fan-base".
Cristiano Ronaldo said: "I have always been passionate about sunglasses and always wanted to have my own eyewear range, and I am really excited to be collaborating with Italia Independent on this project. I am very careful on details and I always work hard to achieve perfection in everything that I do. We have been working together for the past year on the design and creative process and it is great that we share the same attitude and the same attention to details. I cannot wait for everyone to see the collection."