MIDO AWARDS 2025: EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY HONORED AT FASHION SQUARE

The first day of MIDO 2025 also included the eagerly awaited MIDO Awards presentation ceremony celebrating, once again, excellence and innovation in the eyewear industry. An iconic moment, it focused the spotlight on the most visionary and sustainable eyewear businesses, reaffirming the show’s commitment to promoting creativity, technology and environmental responsibility.

The tenth edition of the Best Store Award honored the best optical centers in the world: Zien & Horen Frits van den Bosch of Thomas Van Den Bosch (Wommelgem, Belgium) won the Design category award for creativity in the interior decor and many customer-focused services, like a cafe and a space designed for children. Ottica Padrin of Fabrizio Padrin (Vicenza, Italy) was awarded the Innovation category prize for implementing cutting-edge technologies, a focus on personalized customer care and its commitment to social and environmental sustainability.

The second award, Stand Up For Green, was assigned to the most sustainable stand at the show. This year, the prize went to Silhouette International (Austria) for skillfully combining design and sustainability by prioritizing efficient use of resources and waste reduction. Emphasis was on achieving various sustainability certifications. In addition, special mention went to CSO Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici, winner of the 2024 Stand Up For Green Award, for its ongoing social and environmental commitments and activities that benefit local communities. Winners in the six CSE - Certified Sustainable Eyewear Award categories, recognition that assesses sustainability in the eyewear industry at an international level, are:

CSE Award for Cases, Rest of the World: Nike (Marchon, Italy) for its commitment togenerating positive results for stakeholders and for its promotion of social sustainability programs;
CSE Award Cases, Europe: Mokki Click (Mokki, Norway) for setting an excellent example inimplementing the principles of circularity and for the use of 100% recycled materials;
CSE Award Frames, Rest of the World: Hibang (Duolog Design, Taiwan) for the use of a single recycled material and its innovative system of disassembling components for easy replacement;
CSE Award Frames, Europe: Rolf (Rolf.produktions, Austria) for its innovative production process based on 3D-printing with a biogenic material and the extreme simplicity of disassembling frames for replacing parts or recycling at the end of their life-cycle;

CSE Award Sunglasses, Rest of the World: Karl Lagerfield (Marchon, Italy) for research into sustainable materials in manufacturing the product, complemented by functional design;

Finally, among the innovations for this edition, presentation of the winner of the Sergio Cereda Design Award that recognizes emerging talent in eyewear design: the jury selected Tea Rocco (LABA, Italy), honoring her ability to combine bold innovation and timeless elegance. Not only is her design an aesthetic accomplishment but it also narrates a story of passion, precision and courage, values inherent to the legacy of Sergio Cereda in the world of eyewear.

Her essay was also especially moving, adeptly translating Cereda’s vision into words: fashion is not only form and materials, but a language of the soul, a means of expressing identity and creativity. With enormous pride, Tea Rocco receives the inaugural award and a check for $10,000 dollars in support of her professional growth and to fuel a future as bright as her talent.

Starting in 2026, the Sergio Cereda Design Award will become international, opening up applications to emerging designers from around the globe. The award will consist of $10,000 to the first prize winner, $5,000 to second prize and $2,500 to third prize. The award ceremony will
take place during MIDO 2026.

MIDO AWARDS: recognition of excellence in eyewear

With the MIDO Awards, the show proves it is not only a showcase of business and innovation, but also a stage upon which to highlight companies that are redefining the future of eyewear through creativity, sustainability and state-of-the-art technology.