Selima Salaun

Throughout your career, you’ve seen eyewear evolve from a purely functional accessory into a true style statement. Why do you think glasses occupy such a unique place in personal style today?

«I’ve always believed that eyewear is the most important accessory and I think that, in recent years, people are really starting to embrace that. It’s fascinating because glasses were originally purely utilitarian, from 12th century Chinese judges concealing their expressions and 13th century Italian monks magnifying small text, all the way to modern eyewear’s miracles of vision correction and UV protection. But, while born of utility, eyewear has gradually found its place in fashion as well, which makes perfect sense because, as I always say: It’s the first thing you see. When you meet someone, you look at their eyes and face first, so, of course, eyewear should be the most important part of any outfit. I compare eyewear’s evolution to handbags—accessories rooted in functionality that, as design and quality improved, grew into elements of luxury and style. I’m so excited to see that evolution and feel that glasses and sunglasses are truly ascending as focal points in fashion».

Your boutiques have become known for their highly selective approach to eyewear. When you and your team select a frame or discover new designers, what catches your attention and what sets great eyewear design apart from the rest?

«Honestly, what really captures my attention and separates great from good eyewear design is the same as it’s always been: shape and proportion. A (tongue-in-cheek) slogan for us recently has been that “sometimes, size matters” and…it’s just so true. Just like faces can be similar, but so different; eyewear can be similar, but so different, because, ultimately, every millimeter and degree of angle makes such a difference. I think it’s why so much vintage eyewear still feels so relevant today: Good design is essentially about shape and size that complement and elevate your features. So, as it’s always been, that’s what catches my attention first and then I dive into the technical quality and craftsmanship».

National Sunglasses Day celebrates both style and eye protection. What advice do you always give customers when it comes to sunglasses, also considering eye health?

«I always say that if you’re going to invest in anything, it should be what you wear on your face. From a technical perspective, the face and eyes are among the most sensitive and delicate features of our body, so why wouldn’t you invest in proper quality? From a design perspective, the eyes are your first feature that people notice, so why wouldn’t you invest in eyewear that fits and elevates your features and personal style? I truly believe that if there’s any item to invest in, it’s your eyewear».

MANIFESTO: The new ic! berlin brand campaign

A key message

From its revolutionary screwless hinge to the use of stainless steel for ultra-lightweight frames, ic! berlin’s history is marked by innovation that challenges convention. An attitude that, in the new MANIFESTO campaign, is distilled into a key message: “Change the direction, not the destination.” Because it is possible to redefine the way we move through the world without betraying our own vision.

Two images

Translating this philosophy into visuals is milanese photographer and digital artist Jacopo Di Cera, who structured each composition as a diptych: a broader, atmospheric view paired with a close-up that highlights the frame’s technical precision. The result is a sophisticated and contemporary visual narrative that enhances the dialogue between aesthetics and function, between personal identity and design.

Three models

Taking centre stage in the campaign are three signature frames: Bacall, Thilo, and Rhenium. Bacall features a cat-eye silhouette with a steel core, encased in sculpted acetate; Thilo expresses a more architectural aesthetic, lightened by the innovative Horizontal Colour Split technology; and finally, Rhenium reinterprets a retro-inspired frame through a contemporary lens, with monochromatic palettes and faceted details. Three distinct interpretations of a single principle: eyewear as an extension of one’s individual—and inimitable—style.

ic! berlin and Mercedes-Benz: Spring/Summer 2026 Collection

The models

Combining timeless elegance and Mercedes-Benz’s “Sensual Purity” philosophy with ic! berlin’s precision engineering and design language: this is the foundation of the new Spring/Summer 2026 Eyewear collection. The result of a well-established collaboration between high-end automotive design and the screwless eyewear technology of the Berlin-based brand—part of the Marcolin portfolio since 2023—the collection introduces several new features and includes three new models for both optical and sun.

The materials

Among the most notable elements of the capsule collection is the introduction of two hybrid frames in acetate and metal, combining visual depth, tactile quality, and fluid lines with a retro-futuristic character. This is reflected in the details of the top bar, the engraved front, and the temples, whose finishes echo the aerodynamic lines of Mercedes-Benz design. Alongside these frames is the metal model MB26, completing the trilogy of fully metallic unisex styles by ic! berlin for Mercedes-Benz.

The new palette

Finally, two highly refined shades define the collection’s color identity: Sea Pine, a deep green with blue undertones, and Verdesilber, an exclusive Mercedes-Benz color that enhances silver gray with green metallic reflections—bringing to eyewear a finish directly inspired by automotive design language. Lines and colors that meet the needs of a dynamic, young audience with a sensitivity for refined, design-driven aesthetics.

Marcolin For The Environment

Waste That Impacts The Climate

Every year, hundreds of thousands of tons of fruit and vegetables pass through Italian wholesale markets, and every day between 4% and 5% ends up as waste. These are perfectly edible products that remain unsold due to aesthetic imperfections, non-standard sizes, or damaged packaging. In practical terms, this means that around 500 kilos of fruits and vegetables are discarded every day, generating waste that also contributes to the climate crisis. Not only does it nullify the natural resources used to produce this food, but its disposal is responsible for approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

The People Wavers’ Response

On June 5th, World Environment Day, the People Wavers invited Marcolin colleagues to actively fight food waste by taking part in a volunteering day at the Milan wholesale fruit and vegetable market, alongside Recup, the association that works in Milan and Rome to recover and redistribute surplus food. Thanks to Recup, at the Milan wholesale market alone, 8 tons of fruits and vegetables are distributed every week to organizations such as Caritas, the Italian Red Cross, IBVA, Opera Cardinal Ferrari, and many others, which support around 17,000 people in need every day.

A Day For Everyone’s Future

Participants experienced a day dedicated to sustainability and solidarity in Italy’s largest wholesale market. According to the data shared by Recup, among the stalls of 110 wholesalers and 81 producers, in just three hours approximately 1,570 kilos of unsold fruits and vegetables were collected, with an estimated value of around €4,600. This also resulted in savings of 1.3 tons of CO₂ emissions and 7,600 cubic meters of water. The recovered food was then weighed, sorted, and divided into crates at the association’s headquarters, ultimately supporting 561 people. A great result for a project that benefits others, the planet, and the heart.

ic! berlin and Mercedes-AMG

A Successful Partnership

On one side, the visionary and urban approach of ic! berlin, whose identity is defined by innovation, sustainability and attention to detail; on the other, the technology and aesthetic research of a sports car brand like Mercedes-AMG. This spring once again confirms the collaboration between the two brands—two realities with a deeply German DNA, always on the move and ready to push their limits.

 

The Collection

The new collection features three models—marking the sixth chapter of a collaboration that began in 2020—defined by dynamic shapes and a bold use of colors inspired by the AMG palette. For example, the Pearl version of the AMG 22 model features orange details on the temples and mirrored lenses, while the new lacquered finish on the special ultralight carbon fiber FLEXARBON®—an exclusive ic! berlin patent—adds depth and brightness to the frame of the AMG 20 model.

 

The Campaign

The new campaign also highlights how the ic! berlin–AMG collection is designed for an urban environment, with bold geometries that echo Berlin’s architecture and successfully combine the style of a luxury brand like Mercedes-AMG with a company that grew out of Berlin’s alternative scene, such as ic! berlin, known worldwide for innovative solutions like its signature screwless hinge. Two brands united by a shared focus on design and a constant pursuit of aesthetic and technological innovation.