Kaenon Polarized, the Southern California-based maker of sunglasses, announced its official launch to the Italian market next week at MIDO in Milan via its distribution partnership with leading optical manufacturer Rodenstock.
Starting in January of 2010, Rodenstock has been the distribution partner of Kaenon Polarized products in the European Union, with an initial focus on Germany and Italy in 2010. Based in Munich, Germany, Rodenstock’s heritage of designing, developing, manufacturing, licensing, selling and marketing quality eyewear for well over a century makes it the ideal strategic partner with which to expand Kaenon’s European distribution footprint.
The companies officially announced their partnership at Germany’s Opti-Fair in January where Kaenon debuted to high interest in the Rodenstock pavilion.
“With so many parallels between the Italian and the Californian lifestyles, we are very excited to introduce our unique, California-inspired take on Luxury Performance,” says Darren Rosenberg, co-founder and COO of Kaenon Polarized. “We believe that Kaenon’s offering of frame designs, rich colors, and proprietary SR-91 polarized lenses in both plano and Rx will be very well received by Italian consumers who are seeking premium quality with uncompromising comfort and aesthetics. With the support of Rodenstock’s extensive retail network in Italy, and their reputation for lens excellence in Europe, the Kaenon Polarized brand is well-positioned for strong growth across the continent, starting here in Italy.”
“We are thrilled to continue to expand the strategic partnership between Rodenstock and Kaenon Polarized. With Kaenon, we will be able to provide European eyewear retailers with a premium polarized product that our markets have very much been lacking. We are excited for the opportunity to endorse and expand the reach of the exceptional and superior SR-91 polarized lens technology,” says Dr. Olaf Göttgens, CEO of Rodenstock.
Knitoptic Sarl, will continue to operate as Kaenon’s exclusive distribution partner in Switzerland.
Kaenon Polarized continues to gain exposure around the world, not only via its new corporate partnerships, but as a premium performance product worn by some of the world’s premier athletes. Tactician John Kostecki and Skipper Russell Coutts of the winning America’s Cup BMW Oracle team, alpine racing Olympic medalist Julia Mancuso, PGA tour pros Robert Allenby, Kevin Streelman and Brian Gay, and NASCAR phenom Danica Patrick all choose SR-91 lenses to keep them performing at peak levels.
Prescription sunglasses will be available in Europe in Kaenon’s individually customized digitally-surfaced Freestyle (Free-form) technology in both Single Vision and our Freestyle Progressive lenses.
