about theo

On Silmo 89 two fresh but driven opticians, Wim Somers and Patrick Hoet, were eager to show what they had made to the international public of purchasers. Eager as they were, they were somewhat nervous too, for it was their first time. Both felt a need to thoroughly change the landscape of spectacles. Stimulated by the success of the 'Antwerp 6', they thought it high time to prove that Flanders was not only highly creative in the field of clothing alone.

Wim, sober, keeping his feet on the ground. And Patrick, the dreamer. Patrick setting the ideas. Wild; no compromise! Wim as the catalyst. A successful formula. So it turned out.

'Theo', an anagram of 'hoet', Patrick's family name, got hold of a good position in the market niche of high-fashion spectacles without 'signature'. At the outset Theo was only noticed and followed by a very limited group of avant-garde people who happened to wear glasses. But then Theo managed to bring his product home to a wider public of young, self-confident, happy far- and near-sighted people. The torch of avant-garde in leading the way forwards was taken over by the 'eye-witness' collection, which saw the light of life in May 95. Eye-witness had to become a 'strong' collection, i.e. with few concessions made to th

And how about the future? Theo is ambitious. Theo will continue to innovate and to surprise. Because we all have great fun in working for Theo.

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