Luxottica, the world’s largest maker of eyeglasses, has a deal with Google to make Glass-derived products. But that’s not keeping the Italian optical goods giant from working with other companies, like Intel.
Intel and Luxottica announced today a particularly wide-ranging development partnership. The two companies will establish an R&D lab in California, the New York Times said, the results of which may find their way into various Luxottica or Intel products as appropriate. As for Google, said Luxottica CEO Massimo Vian:
“Google Glass is a specific product we are working on,” he said. “With Intel, we are researching new possibilities that can be applied or offered to many brands.”
The Times points out that this is the fifth fashion alliance Intel has forged this year. Others include Opening Ceremony, Barney’s, the Council of Fashion Designers, and Fossil. (Note that Vian is not the Luxottica CEO who said this about Google Glass; that was his predecessor.)