Swiss Expansion and Strategic Precision Signal New Era in High-End Eyewear
Akn Group—formerly known as Akoni Group—has initiated a strategic rebrand and announced the acquisition of Swiss independent eyewear label Götti and its lens manufacturing partner, Eyetech. This development marks the beginning of a focused expansion strategy aimed at consolidating the group’s influence in the global luxury eyewear market.
The group’s updated name, Akn Group, was selected to clarify its corporate identity and distinguish it from Akoni Eyewear, one of the company’s core brands. While the group name changes, Akoni Eyewear will continue unchanged. With a growing portfolio that now includes Akoni Eyewear, Balmain Eyewear, Valentino Eyewear, Götti Switzerland, and Eyetech, the rebranding ensures clear differentiation between the parent entity and its brand holdings.
Operating under the Alsara Investment Group since 2019, Akn Group is positioning itself as a central player in high-end eyewear by combining organic brand development with strategic acquisitions. The acquisition of Götti—founded in 1998 by optometrist Sven Götti—adds a rich heritage of craftsmanship, technical innovation, and independent design ethos to the group’s offering.
Götti’s executive team will remain in place, preserving both the brand’s autonomy and expertise. CEO Rosario Toscano outlined a deliberate, phased integration plan: 2025 will serve as a year of internal learning, 2026 will focus on operational synergies, and 2027 will usher in full integration. The decision underscores the group’s long-term approach and respect for Götti’s established identity.
Toscano described Götti as “solid and self-sufficient,” with distinctive strengths in 3D printing and bespoke lens design. These capabilities will complement Akn’s broader strategy of advancing personalization and precision at scale. The addition of Eyetech, Götti’s lens manufacturing partner, enhances vertical integration and supports the group’s ambition to build a robust Swiss production ecosystem.
The acquisition follows a year of strong momentum: Akn reported a 30% revenue increase in 2024 over the prior year. Future growth will be driven primarily by acquisitions, with licenses considered only in the case of exceptional brand alignment.
Toscano sees broader shifts ahead in the industry, noting that the next significant disruption will come when ophthalmic eyewear becomes a viable direct-to-consumer category. On the role of artificial intelligence, he predicts early transformation will occur more significantly in lens development than in frame design.
Alsara Investment Group, Akn’s parent company, continues to diversify its luxury portfolio. In addition to eyewear, it holds stakes in brands such as Khrisjoy, Bidayat, Azza Fahmy, and Fromm, and has invested in emerging ventures like Retori and the revival of Walter Albini.
With the addition of Götti and a sharpened group identity, Akn moves forward as a quiet but formidable force—one rooted in Swiss precision, performance, and a clear-eyed vision for the future of luxury eyewear.
