Another Year around the Sun

Celebrating 60 years of Silhouette Brand Biography

Stories
Visionaries
Celebrating 60 years of Silhouette

For our 60th birthday we travel from space back to planet Earth and into our archives. Enjoy a journey of discovery — from the founding story to brand milestones, signature glasses, and the people behind Silhouette.

Join us as we explore the rich history and remarkable transformations of these iconic sunglasses, cherished by fashion enthusiasts worldwide.

Back to where it all began

1964

A vision is born

In 1964, a young couple – Anneliese and Arnold Schmied – introduced the world to the first Silhouette model: the frames that launched an eyewear institution. Their pioneering approach led to a transformation in eyewear, elevating it from a mere visual aid to a coveted fashion accessory.

Dora Demmel

Dora Demmel, Silhouette’s first eyewear designer in 1964, left an indelible mark with numerous iconic creations, including the celebrated Futura in 1974. Even after her passing in 2020, her legacy lives on through our designs.

1974

Futura is now

As the Futura range made waves worldwide, it seamlessly encapsulated the essence of its time, swiftly becoming an instant icon and notably adorning international music stars.

1976

Frameless Freedom

Silhouette launches the first rimless eyewear collection. A response to the societal pursuit of freedom and discovery in the late 70s.

1983

SPX enlightening the Future

Silhouette develops a specially patented polymer called SPX, where ‘S’ stands for Silhouette, ‘P’ for polyamide, and ‘X’ for a secret ingredient. It is known for its flexibility, heat resistance, ergonomic design, and comfort. Using innovative injection molding, it enables diverse frame designs in perfect harmony with high-tech titanium. Continuously improved and now known as SPX^®+, it ushers in a new era of lightweight eyewear, allowing for lighter and thinner glasses.

“I simply wanted to omit anything that was unnecessary while also refusing to compromise in terms of design and comfort.”

Gerhard Fuchs, Designer of Titan Minimal Art

1991

The Birth of an Idea: Minimal Art

The journey began with the aim to create a minimalist pair of glasses. The focus was on reducing weight, enhancing comfort, and eliminating screws and hinges for lens fixation. This unique and super minimalistic approach, distinct from other collections, led to the patented screwless lens fixation. Years later, the development of a new type of titanium alloy led to the creation of Titan Minimal Art.

1999

Titan: A new era in Eyewear

On the cusp of a new millennium as the world switched from analog to digital, Silhouette, with the pioneering work of designer Gerhard Fuchs, presents a paradigm shift in rimless eyewear: Titan Minimal Art. A new epoch of eyewear begins.

2007

Music to our Eyes

Back on Earth, rimless Silhouettes become the frames of choice for the over 70 musicians of the world-famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

2014

Back to the Futura

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Silhouette reprises the cult classic, Futura, with state-ofthe- art materials and an award-winning new design. A fresh spin on a 70s icon. Futura is revisited with The Futura Dot as part of the Silhouette Heritage Collection (2022) – strictly limited to an edition of 1,964 in honor of the year Silhouette was founded.

The Cult Classic

Futura original design 1974, Futura anniversary collection 2004, Futura anniversary collection 2014

Heritage Collection: Futura Dot, 2022

An instant global success when released in 1973, the distinctive design of the Futura Collection immediately captivated the attention of the discerning eyewear customer. Sculpted with space age, futuristic-inspired details it set the standard for statement frames and solidified Silhouette’s reputation as a brand that uniquely succeeds in combining true style with function.

2017

Vision without Boundaries

With the opening of its Lens Lab, Silhouette becomes a premium eyewear institution integrating both frames and lenses. The glasses are developed, manufactured, and assembled, all under one roof. The result: a quantum leap in optical precision – a marriage of excellence between lens and frame.

2022

Carbon Neutral

Through a combination of reduction initiatives, which include not only purchasing but also producing our own green electricity and offsetting the remaining amount of CO2, Silhouette eyewear production becomes carbon neutral. This is another advantage for us as Europe’s first and only eyewear manufacturer certified by the European Commission EMAS*. 3500 solar panels have been installed, actively contributing to our efforts, and we are engaged in certified carbon offsetting projects with goldstandard.org.

2024

Ever evolving

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary, we are unveiling the best Titan Minimal Art and Titan Minimal Art Sun collections ever, featuring new styles, colors, and shapes. To honor these groundbreaking icons, Silhouette designers will unveil a celestial-inspired collection, showcasing the latest in optical engineering, fashion, and design – pure lightness, invisible fit, and sleek design.