PARIS—The 2013 Mondial de L’Optique ( Silmo) was held from Sept. 26 to 29 at the Paris Nord Villepinte exposition center. The 47th edition of the French show was attended by 35,103 professionals—44 percent of which were French and 56 percent international—and 950 exhibitors, including 132 new companies, representing 1,350 brands, according to organizers.

Show organizers conceded that while visitor numbers from France remained stable, figures for Asia and North America were down slightly due to the proximity of the IOFT and Vision Expo West.

Creativity and innovation were prominent themes at the 20th Silmo d’Or awards ceremony, presided over this year by designer Mathieu Lehanneur who accompanied a panel of experts in rewarding the top companies in eight categories, plus the winner of the Jury's Special Award, on Sept. 26 at the Pont Alexandre III.


The 2013 Silmo d’OR winners were:
• Optical frames - Dita Eyewear from the U.S. for Thom Browne TB-011 USA
• Sunglasses – Factory900-Aoyama from Japan for Fa-1111
• Sport – Julbo from France for Tensing Flight
• Children – Seaport from France for KILT 03 de Façonnable
• Frame Innovation – CIDI from Italy for 3MOMI Tech
• Vision, Lenses – BBGR from France for Intuitiv
• Vision, Contact lenses – CooperVision from the U.S. for MyDay
• Low vision – Essilor from France for Prodigi Duo
• Equipment – Nidek from Japan for ARK-1s

The Jury's Special Award was given to Masunaga from Japan for their Masunaga GMS Limited 2013 frame.

Silmo 2014 is scheduled for Sept. 26 to 29 at Paris Nord Villepinte.