bbase Design Group, a leading innovator in the eyewear industry, is proud to announce a three-year international licensing agreement with The Smiley® Company, the iconic brand synonymous with spreading positivity through viral lifestyle and fashion collaborations.
With this partnership, bbase will design, produce, and distribute a diverse range of eyewear collections for Smiley®, SmileyWorld®, S.W. Smiley®, Mini Smiley® and Smiley® Future Positive across international markets. This collaboration represents a significant milestone for both bbase and Smiley, two companies united by a shared commitment to originality and innovation.
Through bbase’s expertise in the eyewear business and Smiley’s legacy of joyful cultural resonance, the product offerings will feature direct-to-retail and special collaborations across commercial, diffusion, and luxury brands. The collections will incorporate cutting-edge certified sustainable materials from the bow Index, highlighting a shared commitment to environmental responsibility.
Nicolas Loufrani, CEO of The Smiley Company, said: “We are incredibly excited about this new partnership and the opportunity it brings to amplify the Smiley Future Positive program. It is extremely important for us to find partners who can help us on our journey to become a more sustainable brand and I am incredibly happy to have met a team at bbase who really have ambitious targets that align with Smiley.”
The first collection from bbase and Smiley is set to launch internationally in March 2025. Expect a range of eyewear that’s set to celebrate the Smiley vision of happiness and authenticity and showcases the design craftsmanship and innovation that bbase is known for.
Jo-Black, CEO and Co-Founder of bbase Design Group, commented: “This alliance is a meeting of kindred spirits, where creativity, cultural influence, and sustainability seamlessly converge. By merging our innovative design ethos with Smiley’s unmistakable spirit, we will bring to life eyewear that is not only visually striking, but imbued with meaning and purpose. As they say, the best smiles reach your eyes, so prepare to see the world through a lens of unadulterated optimism.”
ABOUT bbase Design Group
bbase Design Group is a leading innovator in the eyewear industry, renowned for its commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge eyewear design, working with global retailers and brands for over 20 years.
Developed in 2020, the bow Responsible Materials Index is the first comparative materials analysis across bio and recycled materials in eyewear.
incubbase is bbase’s education initiative that partners with international universities around the world to introduce the foundations of sustainable eyewear design to students through a series of workshops and mentorship programs.
With a rich heritage and a focus on circular practices, bbase continues to revolutionize the eyewear industry by launching sustainable initiatives in collaboration with partners.
ABOUT THE SMILEY® COMPANY
The Smiley Company has transformed the iconic Smiley brand into a global retail empire.
Founded by French journalist Franklin Loufrani in 1972, The Smiley Company is a global licensing enterprise that has been spreading joy and optimism for over four decades. Originally created to encourage readers of the newspaper France-Soir to ‘Take the Time to Smile,’ the Smiley symbol quickly became a ubiquitous and highly recognized icon in graphic design.
Continuing to influence modern culture, Smiley is one of the world’s top global licensing enterprises, collaborating on high-profile projects in fashion, art, homeware, food, and beverages. Major partnerships include Loewe, Moschino, Raf Simons, Eastpak, and LA-based Market, known for the Market Smiley Basketball – cultural icon.
In line with Smiley’s positive ethos, Nicolas Loufrani founded the Smiley Movement in 2017. This non-profit community uses multimedia platforms to inspire positive societal change, addressing urgent social and environmental issues.
