Over one hundred years ago the Gambini family began their activities in the field of optics; we wanted to underscore this milestone by telling the story of the person who made a major mark on this path and created the brand of Made in Italy: Germano Gambini.
After a sporting career in basketball, which led him to play for the national team in the early 60s Germano Gambini became involved in managing the family business (the Gambini family owned 4 optical shops in Bologna) immediately revealing a great capacity to understand and anticipate early developments in the sector.
He was amongst the first in Italy to spread the use of contact lenses and to instruct opticians on the use of what was at the time a novelty.
With the rise of the ready to wear he perceived the importance of fashion eyewear and at first began importing glasses ‘branded’ by Pierre Cardin; he collaborated with Cardin not only on the distribution of his eyewear but also worked on the design of the collection. Subsequently he then began to work as a designer with famous designers like Ferre, Trussardi and Coveri.
In the '70s he began to fashion collections in his own name: as a former sportsman, apart from the design he paid great attention to the practicality and comfort of the glasses, creating the collection “Leggeri” famous for its frames which weigh only 8 grams.
This collection was followed by others, always full of innovation and characterized by cutting-edge design: the masks, which allowed one to tan without taking off your glasses; Tessa, glasses made with an unusual material Plexiglas; Variety, which was made with an innovative combination of plastic and metal and aimed at a younger consumer, the Divina, one of the first to be made with Swarovski crystals, an expression of glamor and femininity which today is interpreted in the Cristalli.
Germano Gambini was an innovator and forerunner when in Italy glasses were regarded as little more than an unpleasant necessity. He had the courage to break the mould of mainstream taste and bring to the world of glasses a breath of fresh air: shapes, materials and unusual colours, with great conviction he was able to impose on the trend setters, creating trends that were then followed by many others.
In 2008 he began a partnership with Faoflex, a company in Treviso, which today produces all the Gambini collections in Italy using high quality materials and craftsmanship.
After the death of Germano Gambini in 2011, the baton has been passed on to his daughter Paola, who initiated a plan of action to enhance the brand name with continuity in style and quality keeping on the path paved by the Founder.
The project aims to raise awareness around the world of the skill and passion, which is a reality with a long tradition, a story that represents the best of Made in Italy.