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Ray-Ban sunglasses: it all began from aviation

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Published on Monday, 21 October 2013 15:21

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The history of Ray Ban starts back in 1929 when the company Bausch & Lomb received an order from the U.S. Air Force for the development and production of glasses for pilots. These new sunglasses had to protect pilots’ eyes from the sunlight and improve image clarity while piloting an aircraft.

The company decided to use optical lenses in the production of new sunglasses in order to protect pilots’ eyes from ultraviolet and infrared rays. Eventually, pilots liked new sunglasses so much that ‘Tear Drop’ sunglasses, also known as Aviators, became an inherent part of every American pilot.

The new product was so convenient that the pilots started to wear them not only on duty, but in the everyday life as well. This, along with the prestige of the pilot’s profession itself, quickly brought Tear Drop sunglasses to high popularity within average Americans. Everyone wanted to wear glasses ‘as pilots’.

In 1937, the company Bausch & Lomb launches mass production of Tear Drop glasses. A special market brand was designed to name the sunglasses - Ray-Ban.

The Aviator became a well-known style of sunglasses when General Douglas MacArthur landed on the beach in the Philippines in World War II. Newspaper photographers snapped several pictures of him wearing them.

Following the success of Aviators, Ray-Ban presented another classic style – Wayfarer. These sunglasses soon became popular in Hollywood. Eventually, already in the 60’s, the glasses were worn by everyone - from presidents and stylish women and ending with well-known musicians and hipsters. In 1961, the brand received a major support through the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's", in which Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly practically lived with her Wayfarer glasses.

In the 70’s and early 80’s Ray-Ban glasses faced a decline in the demand. Struggling with lowering sales, the company decided to go on a marketing trick and signed a $50,000 worth contract according to which various Hollywood actors and starts were appearing in movies and TV shows with Ray Ban glasses. Investments paid off in a year, and during the 1982-1987 period alone Ray-Ban glasses were noticed in more than 60 films and shows.

Meanwhile, unlike the U.S., in Europe, Ray-Ban gained a lot of popularity only in 1990’s when an Italian company Luxottica Grouppriobrela acquired the rights on the Ray-Ban trademark. The company Luxottica has remained faithful to the traditions of Ray-Ban and fully maintained technology of glass lenses thus bringing Ray-Ban’s brand to the success across Europe and further, in other regions. 

More on Ray-Ban glasses @ FlightStore