The first manufacturing site opened in 1878 to produce lenses and frames in Calalzo di Cadore, in the Venetian Alps. Guglielmo Tabacchi bought this production site in 1934 and founded a new eyewear company, Safilo, today the oldest player in the Italian eyewear industry. In 1974, the founder of Safilo died and his sons took over. In the 1970s, Safilo opened sales offices in various European countries, patented the Elasta hinge, and introduced a popular UFO model of sunglasses. and gained full control of the American eyewear company Starline Optical Corp. It subsequently acquired then sunglass-maker
Friuli-based Oxsol and was introduced on the Milan Stock Exchange in 1987. In the 1990s, Safilo entered the Asian market, in
Hong Kong, opened branches in more countries in Europe,
South Africa,
Japan and
Brazil. Safilo Group acquired the American sports eyewear maker Smith Sports Optics and Austria's Carrera Optyl. Safilo owns its private collection about the history of eyewear and of the company. In January 2024, Safilo renewed its partnership with
Levi's until 2029. ==Eyewear brands==