Who Makes Akoni? The Real Dita Connection Behind a Quiet Luxury Brand

Quick answer: Akoni Group was founded in Lugano, Switzerland by Rosario Toscano and Salma Rachid — but the Dita connection runs deeper than most people realize. Toscano previously ran Dita's global operations as Managing Director, and Akoni's debut collection was designed by Jeff Solorio and John Juniper, the two people who founded Dita itself back in 1995.

If you have spent any time shopping high-end frames, you know Dita. For nearly three decades it has been shorthand for Japanese-made, collectible, quietly expensive eyewear. What far fewer people know is that a newer, deliberately understated brand — Akoni — was built by people who came directly out of Dita's own leadership and design team. This is the real story of that connection, and why it matters if you are choosing your next pair.

The short version: who actually makes Akoni

Akoni Group was founded in Lugano, Switzerland, around 2019–2020 by Rosario Toscano (CEO) and Salma Rachid (Creative Director), with frames manufactured in Japan. The brand describes itself as resting on "Swiss Precision and Japanese Artistry," and it keeps its marketing famously quiet — no celebrity blitz, no loud logos.

The part Akoni does not advertise loudly is the pedigree behind it. Rosario Toscano was Dita's own Global Managing Director before starting Akoni. And the label's debut collection carries an even more direct link: it was designed by Jeff Solorio and John Juniper — the two people who co-founded Dita in 1995. In Solorio's own words, describing that period after leaving Dita: "we decided to create a collection for the Akoni group."

A precise way to say it: Akoni is not owned by Dita, and Solorio and Juniper are not Akoni's founders — that credit belongs to Toscano and Rachid. But the company's leadership and its first collection both came directly out of Dita's own founding team. The link is real people and real craft heritage, not corporate ownership.

From snowboard films to two Dita-connected brands

The Dita origin story is genuinely unusual. Co-founders Jeff Solorio and John Juniper were pro-snowboard filmmakers and photographers — best friends behind the lens — before they turned to eyewear in 1995. In Solorio's own words, he "co-founded the brand DITA eyewear and began the journey of creating a brand that over time created a benchmark in the eyewear industry."

That outsider's eye is a big part of why Dita frames looked different: cinematic, architectural, obsessive about small details. Rosario Toscano later joined Dita as Global Managing Director, running the business side before striking out to found Akoni. When he needed a design team for Akoni's first collection, he turned to Solorio and Juniper — the two people who had defined Dita's look from day one. That is why some of that same sensibility resurfaces in Akoni's frames.

[STAFF INSIGHT PLACEHOLDER — do not publish as-is.] Per campaign rule, insert one real, attributed insight from a named Gazal optician here (e.g., how customers who wore Dita for years respond when they first try on Akoni). Blocked until a real author/optician is named (open questions #0 and #2). Do NOT fabricate a quote.

Why "ex-Dita" matters when you are shopping

Brand backstories can be marketing fluff. This one is useful for a practical reason: it tells you what to expect on your face.

Designers carry habits — proportions they trust, hinge and rim details they refine over years, a feel for how a frame should sit. When the people who helped establish Dita's look are shaping Akoni, you can reasonably expect a similar design language: clean, considered, Japanese-made, built to be kept rather than replaced every season. That is a more honest reason to consider Akoni than any slogan.

It also explains Akoni's "quiet power." The brand does not lean on the Dita name — its own site talks about "honest luxury," not heritage borrowed from somewhere else. The result is a label that flies under the radar while delivering the substance luxury shoppers actually pay for.

Made in Japan — the pedigree Akoni and Dita share

Both brands are built in Japan, and that is not a small detail. Japan's frame industry is concentrated in Fukui Prefecture, centered on Sabae City, which produces roughly 95% of Japan's domestically made frames. It is the world's reference point for titanium eyewear and premium acetate work.

Akoni leans into this heritage on two materials:

• Japanese acetate (zyl): prized for density, depth of color, and the way it can be re-polished to look new even after years of wear.
• Titanium: exceptionally lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and hypoallergenic — which is why it has become the default for people who want to forget they are wearing glasses.

A note in the interest of honesty, not hype: titanium is remarkable, but it is not indestructible. Like any metal frame, it can eventually develop stress at solder joints, hinges, and thin points after years of daily use. We sell titanium for its lightness and comfort, not on any promise that it will last forever. For the full material picture, see our guide to Japanese craftsmanship in eyewear and the materials that define high-end frames.

Akoni vs. Dita at a glance

A factual, side-by-side look — not a knock on either brand. Both sit firmly in the luxury tier; they simply arrived there by different routes.

	Akoni	Dita
Founded	~2019–2020, in Lugano, Switzerland, by Rosario Toscano & Salma Rachid	1995, in the United States, by Jeff Solorio & John Juniper
Design lineage	Debut collection designed by Dita's own founders, Jeff Solorio & John Juniper; CEO Rosario Toscano is Dita's former Global Managing Director	Founded and originally designed by Solorio & Juniper
Where made	Japan	Japan
House signature	Quiet luxury; titanium & Japanese acetate; cosmic model names (Orion, Hubble, Solis)	Cinematic, collectible, detail-driven design
Frame price at Gazal	~$510–$980	~$395–$790
Feel	Understated, newer, discovery-driven	Established, iconic, widely recognized

*(Prices reflect live inventory at Gazal Eyecare as of August 2026 and vary by model and lens choice.)*

One fun tell of Akoni's personality: nearly every model is named for something in the sky or the history of exploration — Orion, Hubble, Galileo, Copernico, Cassini, Solis, Stargazer, Aquila. It is a small, consistent theme that rewards a closer look, much like the frames themselves.

What Akoni costs at Gazal

Akoni is a true luxury frame, priced accordingly. At our Roswell boutique, Akoni optical frames and sunglasses generally run from about $510 to $980, depending on the model, materials, and any prescription lens work. Standouts on the higher end include sculptural pieces like Hubble, Icarus, Eris Two, and Solis; more restrained everyday optical styles like Vista, Sagitta, and Mercury sit toward the lower end of the range.

If you are weighing where your money goes above the $500 mark, the honest framing is this: you are paying for material authenticity, real craftsmanship, and provenance — not an investment that appreciates. Above roughly $1,200 in eyewear, the added return tends to flatten. Akoni lives right in the sweet spot where Japanese materials and design pedigree justify the price without drifting into pure collectible territory.

If you love Dita, here is why to try Akoni

Plenty of our clients have worn Dita for years. If that is you, Akoni is the most natural brand in the shop to try next — same Made-in-Japan foundation, a debut collection designed by Dita's own founders, and a quieter aesthetic under new, Swiss-led leadership that a lot of longtime Dita wearers find refreshing. You can still browse our Dita collection — this is about widening the choice, not replacing a brand you love. For the deeper Dita story, visit our Dita brand page.

The best way to feel the connection is on your own face. Come try Akoni and Dita side by side at the boutique, and let one of our opticians walk you through the materials and fit.

Frequently asked questions

Who makes Akoni eyewear?

Akoni Group was founded in Lugano, Switzerland in 2019–2020 by Rosario Toscano (CEO) and Salma Rachid (Creative Director). Toscano previously served as Dita Eyewear's Global Managing Director, and Akoni's debut collection was designed by Jeff Solorio and John Juniper — the two people who co-founded Dita itself in 1995.

Is Akoni connected to Dita?

Yes, in two real and separate ways. Rosario Toscano, Akoni's CEO and co-founder, previously ran Dita's global operations as Managing Director. And Akoni's debut collection was designed by Jeff Solorio and John Juniper, who co-founded Dita in 1995. Neither Solorio nor Juniper founded Akoni itself — that credit belongs to Toscano and Rachid — but the design and leadership pedigree both trace directly back to Dita.

Where is Akoni eyewear made?

In Japan, by Japanese craftspeople, drawing on the manufacturing tradition centered in Fukui Prefecture and Sabae City — the hub that makes roughly 95% of Japan's domestically produced frames.

How much do Akoni frames cost?

At Gazal Eyecare, Akoni optical frames and sunglasses generally run from about $510 to $980, depending on the model, materials, and lens options.

Is Akoni a good alternative to Dita?

If you love Dita's Japanese-made, collectible-feeling frames, Akoni is a natural next try — its debut collection was designed by Dita's own founding designers, and it shares the Made-in-Japan pedigree, while charting its own quieter direction under new, Swiss-led leadership.

See Akoni in person

Explore the full lineup in our Akoni collection — or browse Akoni sunglasses and Akoni eyeglasses separately. To learn more about the brand before you visit, read our Akoni brand page and Akoni eyewear guide. When you are ready, book an eye exam or styling appointment at our Roswell boutique and try Akoni and Dita side by side.