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NEW YORK—It’s been a beautiful couple of days at Expo East, both outside the Javits Center and inside, thanks to the weather and a show floor that’s blossoming like spring itself. And that was certainly apparent in the Galleria, which was buzzing with showgoers checking out the latest eyewear and sunwear styles.

“I always come to the Galleria to see what is new,” said Fernando Pato, an optician who owns a shop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “There is such beautiful product here.”

“The Galleria is known for showcasing the latest fashion trends and cutting-edge designs,” said Chris McDonald, CEO of Jee Vice Eyewear. “Given that Jee Vice is a fashion eyewear brand dedicated exclusively to women, we thought it was the perfect place to show off our latest designs.”

Rivka Estroff of Grant Italia-USA has been showing her collections in the Galleria since its inception. “We were one of a very small group of companies that pushed to have a special area to show product like ours to a select group of optical boutiques,” she explained.

“The Galleria was formed to enable the retail shops looking for something different from the ordinary to find all of us because before we were scattered all over the show floor and each year our location would change. Many of the Galleria companies do not have reps everywhere so this gives them the opportunity to see their current customers as well as possibly meeting new ones. That is why we feel it’s necessary to continue to exhibit. What’s a better way to show your collections then in person?”

That personal touch was definitely in evidence. Todd Rogers was causing a stir at his booth on the Galleria Mezzanine thanks to eyeglass-centric t-shirts, which he used to lure people to see his eyewear line. The shirt getting the most attention read: I KNOW YOU’RE ADMIRING MY glASSes. “I need this!” exclaimed a giggling optician. “If you like our T-shirts, you’ll love our eyewear,” he told the optician. It worked. He came right over and checked out the frame collection.  

 

— Jackie Micucci