Quattrocento Italian eyewear is the Warby Parker of Europe


Sharon Ezra and Eugenio Pugliese met in a cafe in Milan, fell in love and began building a disruptive Italian eyewear brandQuattrocento. One year later, Quattrocento is making it possible for fashion lovers to buy luxury glasses at affordable prices without sacrificing quality.

Prices start at 115 Euros for both the frames and prescription lenses – yes, even in the U.S. To do this, they maintain full control over the supply chain. They create their own designs, handle all production, have their own optical lab for prescription lenses and sell direct to the consumer through their ecommerce store.

While Italy is a world leader for quality eyewear production, selling direct through ecommerce channels is uncharted territory for most Italian eyewear brands. Quattrocento hopes to lead the charge.

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Named the Warby Parker of Europe by TechCrunch and listed as one of Forbes 15 Startups to Watch in 2015, this young Italian eyewear brand is getting noticed in all corners of the world. Runway model Cara Delevingne and Italian blogger Chiara Ferrangi have been snapped wearing the Italian eyewear brand.

Sharon and Eugenio’s goal with Quattrocento is to revive the artisan tradition in Italian eyewear. Today, many small independent Italian glasses manufacturers exist, but not many sell online. They hope to help these small factories and in turn offer customers honest transparent pricing and deep Italian traditions – a rare find in mass production.

We sat down with Founder Sharon Ezra to get more details about the brand. Enjoy!

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What does the name Quattrocento mean?
The name Quattrocento translates from Italian to “1400” and refers the the 15th Century in Italy, a time when the Italian renaissance was flourishing, and also a time of revolutionary change. Eugenio and I are both inspired by this time.

What makes Quattrocento unique?
The combination of high quality, sexy prices and our pop-renaissance brand-identity.

Where does the magic happen? Where is your HQ?
Our factories are located in Cadore, Veneto, Italy, where glass manufacturing tradition dates back hundreds of years. We value the work of small producers and are happy we get the chance to support them.

Which model is your bestseller?

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Absolutely the Cuanta Passion. They are a beautiful classic shape and comes in many interesting colors.

What is your definition of luxury?
Luxury to us means offering the highest quality and uniqueness. Although, the concept of luxury has changed throughout the past decades, it’s still something very personal that everyone interprets in their very own way.

Who is your muse and why?
My muse has been Giotto Bondone. He’s thought to be the first contemporary artist of the Italian Renaissance – a true rebel. Our goal is to revolutionize the eyewear market just as he revolutionized art during his time. 

What has been the most valuable advice you have ever received about working in the fashion industry?
Stay close your values and never let them change even if market conditions do. In the log run this attitude will help you make a difference.

Which rock legend you would you like to see wearing your glasses?
Definitely Yoko Ono and Janis Joplin!

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Shop Quattrocento on Italist

 

About the Author

Alex English is the Head of Content Marketing at italist.com, building on a lifelong passion for fashion and luxury. After publishing a lifestyle blog for nearly ten years and obtaining an MBA in Milan at SDA Bocconi, one of Europe’s top business schools, he joined the italist team in 2019. His work since then has focused on upper-funnel messaging, brand storytelling, establishing italist as a thought leader in the space, and enriching the customer experience on the platform. Find him on LinkedIn.

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