Sting

Sting Eyewear emerged in 1985 as part of the De Rigo Group, a family-owned Italian eyewear company founded by brothers Ennio and Walter De Rigo in 1978. Based in Longarone in the Belluno province of Italy, the traditional center of Italian eyewear craftsmanship, De Rigo established Sting to target a youthful market seeking stylish, innovative designs at accessible prices. The brand quickly carved out its own identity within the competitive Italian eyewear landscape, becoming known for bold designs and trendy aesthetics that resonated with fashion-forward consumers. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Sting frames were manufactured using traditional Italian techniques while embracing contemporary styling that set them apart from more conservative designs. The brand's approach balanced quality Italian craftsmanship with approachable price points, making distinctive eyewear accessible to a broader audience. Some frames featured labor-intensive hand-painting processes, metal frames in gold and silver tones, and innovative color combinations that reflected the vibrant spirit of the era. Today, Sting has evolved into IN Inspired by STING for adult collections while maintaining STING XS for junior eyewear, but the vintage pieces from the brand's formative decades remain sought after by collectors who appreciate their authentic representation of 1980s-1990s Italian design culture and the confident, youthful energy they embody.

Sting eyewear represents the bold, youthful spirit of Italian design from the golden era of eyewear manufacturing. Launched by De Rigo in 1985, Sting quickly gained recognition for its innovative styles that blended Italian craftsmanship with sporty, contemporary aesthetics. These frames captured the imagination of a generation seeking eyewear that made a statement. Manufactured in Italy's Belluno region, the traditional heart of Italian eyewear production, each Sting frame showcases the quality and attention to detail that defined Italian manufacturing during this period. The designs feature confident shapes, vibrant color combinations, and thoughtful construction details like spring hinges and metal-acetate combinations. From sleek aviators to bold wraparounds and distinctive rectangular frames, Sting's diverse range offered styles for those who wanted their eyewear to reflect their personality. Collectors value these pieces for their authentic Italian heritage, their connection to 1980s-1990s youth culture, and their representation of an era when eyewear design embraced boldness and innovation. These frames embody the optimistic energy of their time, when Italian design houses were creating accessible luxury for a new generation.

Our Sting collection focuses on pieces from the brand's formative decades of 1985-1999, when the designs most clearly expressed the bold, youthful energy that defined the brand's identity. We select frames that showcase the range of Sting's design language, from sporty aviators and wraparounds to distinctive rectangular and oval styles. Each piece is chosen for its representation of 1980s-1990s Italian design culture and its condition. We seek frames that demonstrate interesting color combinations, innovative construction details, and the confident styling that made Sting eyewear memorable. Our curation emphasizes frames that tell the story of Italian youth culture and the democratization of designer eyewear during this period. We prioritize pieces with their original cases when available, distinctive model numbers from Sting's diverse range, and frames that showcase the various materials and techniques De Rigo employed. Whether sporty sunglasses or prescription frames, each piece is selected to represent the authentic spirit of vintage Sting design and Italian craftsmanship from the brand's most influential era.