Persol × Olivetti: eyewear meets the Lettera 22

A typewriter, a pair of glasses, one shared idea: everyday objects can have character. Persol and Olivetti bring a fragment of Italian design culture to the face.

This is more than an exercise in nostalgia. The appeal lies in looking closely at familiar objects: a precise detail, a surface, a shape that remains recognisable without raising its voice. Explore the broader Persol eyewear collection to see how this collaboration fits into the brand's language.

The Lettera 22: a story that begins in 1950

The reference is the Lettera 22, engineered by Giuseppe Beccio and designed by Marcello Nizzoli in 1950. Awarded the Compasso d'Oro in 1954, it belongs to a period when Italian design transformed everyday tools into cultural landmarks. This is not a generic revival of the 1990s.

You do not have to know that history to enjoy the frame. Discovering it simply changes the way you look: a decorative element becomes a reference to an idea.

Details with something to say

Persol describes the collaboration through the Lettera 22 engraving inside the temple, Olivetti's O on the hinge and colour accents inspired by the typewriter. The result feels like a conversation between two identities, rather than a signature added afterwards.

Some details are immediately visible; others reveal themselves when the glasses are folded away. That quiet sense of discovery is part of their appeal.

How to wear them without dressing in costume

A frame with a history does not require a retro wardrobe. A roll-neck and clean-lined trousers make it a personal detail; denim and a shirt loosen the intellectual association. With an unstructured jacket, the design reference is already clear enough.

Black gives the look a more defined line, while Havana can feel warmer and softer. These are styling suggestions, not universal rules: face shape, colouring and the rest of the outfit all matter.

The collaboration begins with optical eyewear

Archivi Olivetti identifies the optical version as the starting point and announces the sunglasses launch for 2 November 2026. This selection therefore focuses on PO3416V optical frames already listed on Isolani, without promising availability of the sun models.

For everyday wear, dimensions and comfort matter alongside the story. If you are also choosing lenses, explore our guide to prescription glasses online; prescription configuration must be checked on the selected product page.

Two optical interpretations: black and Havana

The campaign also shows the green variant. The two product pages linked here are for black and Havana; always check the selected colour and availability on the product page.

For ideas on wearing your frame on different occasions, explore our guide to styling glasses with your outfit, from work dinners to evenings and weddings.