MILAN — Edgardo Osorio’s lifestyle vision for his Aquazzura brand is increasingly coming into focus.

After debuting in the hospitality arena with a branded bar installed at Rome’s famed Hotel de Russie, Osorio is unveiling his first eyewear collection, which adds to Aquazzura’s accessories offering of , bags and jewelry, as well as tableware and home decor.

Osorio sees the new category not only as a natural extension of the brand’s ethos — which is rooted in a La Dolce Vita-inspired glamorous aesthetic and connected to the sea and sunny destinations — but also strategic business-wise.

“It’s a great opportunity to introduce Aquazzura to a broader audience, with more accessible entry price points and the potential for wider distribution in the future. It aligns perfectly with our DNA and feels like a natural extension of our aesthetic and brand lifestyle,” Osorio told WWD.

He revealed the project was two years in the making, during which “we set up a dedicated team and found a boutique factory with fantastic development capabilities and quality, one that could fully interpret my vision for eyewear into a product that feels unique, sexy and luxurious.”

In particular, Osorio tapped a niche, high-end eyewear specialist based in Italy’s Veneto region to manufacture the initial collection, which includes three bold designs in different colors, for a total of eight iterations whose “inspirations range from Murano glass and chandelier drops to palm trees — all evoking a modern Riviera mood.”

The most striking shape is the Palm Beach rimless style profiled with elongated floral contours, which reference crystal chandeliers and handblown bottles of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Available in a sunset-inspired hue, the retro-glamour sunglasses are crafted from translucent nylon and acetate and come with textured metal temples evoking tropical palm leaves.

The oversize “Bella” design offers a bolder take on the ‘70s aviator style. Crafted in matte or translucent acetate in black, light gray or honey hues, it features a 3D-effect crocodile motif on the upper rim and nose bridge. The design is further embellished by intricate metal detailing on the temples — an element that also adds a twist to the “Riviera” cat-eye style in transparent and milky two-tone acetates in pink, caramel, black and white.

“Everything I design is about making a woman look and feel sexier and more beautiful,” Osorio said. “When I design shoes, it’s about elongating the legs and ensuring the fit becomes almost an extension of her body. The same thought process applied to the eyewear — it needs to be sexy and flattering first and foremost. Then, it has to fit well, feel cool and make a statement.”

“Our eyewear, like our shoes, isn’t about logos — it’s about style and design that speak for themselves,” the designer continued. “In a saturated market, I believe there’s still room for something sexy, beautifully made and rich in handcrafted details. Today’s customer is looking for something beyond the cookie-cutter, mass-produced — they want independent labels that offer true quality and strong design.”

As for doing eyewear directly rather than through a license, he underscored he “wanted to initialize this launch with full independent control.”

“Doing it directly gives us complete control over the market and allows us to create a more layered and limited distribution. It was essential that the product truly speaks to and embodies Aquazzura,” Osorio said. He added he remains open to a potential licensing partner to expand the eyewear business in the future.

The three styles — each packaged in a soft metallic clutch-inspired case and the brand’s signature aqua blue box — will launch starting next month exclusively at Aquazzura boutiques and online store with prices ranging from 395 euros and 550 euros. 

“We’ll make a full collection launch for spring 2026, when we open up to wholesale distribution,” Osorio revealed. Until then, limited drops in new colors will launch in the fall.

Also coming up are store openings that will add to Aquazzura’s current retail footprint of 26 boutiques and six shops-in-shop worldwide. New outposts will be unveiled in both Madrid and at the Maxx Royal Hotel in Bodrum next month, followed by a unit in Jakarta this fall. 

Last year the brand added 10 directly operated stores in key locations, from resort destinations such as Saint-Tropez and Marbella to new markets like India via a store in New Delhi. A strong focus was put on the Middle East, with new doors in Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, among others. 

As Osorio teased to WWD’s sister publication FN in December, when he was honored with the Designer of the Year award at the 38th annual FN Achievement Awards, more category extensions seem to be underway, too. He promised that 2025 is going to mark a turning point for the company, teasing it will open a new phase of growth “way beyond shoes.”

“It’s the year where I really want to sell Aquazzura as a lifestyle brand. We’re no longer going to be just a shoe and accessories brand. I want to sell you a dream. And Aquazzura is the dream of happiness,” he said at the time.