There are a few things about 2 sunglasses (French: lunette) that makes them potentially one of the most definitive 'must-have ' items in history. Not only are they enormously practical, offering protection against the hazards of the sun, they're a very flexible fashion accessory, available in a big range of styles, colors and prices to suit every pocket. Given their worldwide acceptance, sunglass manufacturing has become a terribly lucrative, but strongly competitive industry and while some manufacturers rise and decline in the public affections, there is one company that remains forever linked with the glasses that protect our eyes from the rays of the sun: Ray-Ban
Although Us President, Benjamin Franklin, is usually credited with inventing glasses (he was the one who developed the 1st bifocal lens in the 1780's), the first reading glasses were developed in Italy, as early as 1260. People continued to be entranced by all things optical across the centuries that followed, then, in the mid-eighteen hundreds British scientist James Ayscough started to research colored glass, and the possibility that such technology might be used to improve vision impaired vision. As successful as he was, it was not until 1929 that the assumption that glasses could filter the sun's rays was given any heavy consideration. At that point, U.S. Optical company, Foster Grant, started to develop the idea further, till ultimately, later that very same year, the 1st ever pair of sunglasses were sold from a Woolworth's store on the Atlantic Town boardwalk.
Spotting the new technology might be favourable to their pilots, the U.S. Army Air Corps asked another prominent American enterprise, Bausch & Lomb, to develop eyeglasses that would protect the eyes from the dangers of the glaring sun, when flying.
It was U.S. Eyeglass company, Ray-Ban, who actually ran with the idea. In 1936, utilising the recently available polarized lenses, and a wide frame that offered ultimate protection from the sheen of an instrument panel, Ray-Ban started to produce a lens that banned the sun's rays. Some three years on, this model of sunglass so favored by pilots, became readily available to the North American public. Ray-Ban 'aviators ' were born.
As North Americans came of age, so too did their eyewear. Across the war years Ray-Ban continued its working cooperation with the Air Force, making Gradient mirror lenses that managed to be both highly practical and fashionable simultaneously. There was something about that American flyer in his troublesome brown leather flight jacket, whose sunglasses hid his eyes. Ray-Ban had just made sunglasses attractive.
Ubiquitous in the 1950's, sunglasses became more than just eye protection. Worn by A-list stars in Vegas and Hollywood -stars whose every move was reviewed and emulated all over the country- sunglasses turned into a fashion accessory, and Ray-Ban was quick to deal with the accelerating trend for new designs and colorful frames, which they promoted to women in particular.
Keeping abreast of scifi technology, the company developed shatterproof lenses in the 1960's and the popularity of sunglasses kept on rising when fashion icon Jackie Kennedy was sometimes seen with her trademark, oversized frames. On the big screen, sunglasses were becoming a vital part of any actor's costume, with picture stars like Peter Fonda and Audrey Hepburn, playing fashionable, sunglass-wearing, characters who managed to hide their eyes from the fans and remain convincing.
Ray-Ban continued to develop new styles and designs in the 1970's and 1980's: their 'Wings ' model was a real forerunner to the very modern, half-frame, lens of today. In the time of American Television cop shows, like Starsky & Hutch, and Chips, the mirrored lenses once so popular in the 1940's, started to reappear. Ray-Ban was retro.
Trendy and modern, cool and retro, Ray-Ban remains at the leading edge of sunglass manufacturing to this very day no mean feat when one considers the competition out there. Undoubtedly, the company may continue to have staying power in the industry, because across the decades it has evolved with the country to give folks exactly what they desire for their eyes: the trusty protection of a hi-tech pair of sunglasses, and the major 'cool ' of a damn horny pair of shades.
Although Us President, Benjamin Franklin, is usually credited with inventing glasses (he was the one who developed the 1st bifocal lens in the 1780's), the first reading glasses were developed in Italy, as early as 1260. People continued to be entranced by all things optical across the centuries that followed, then, in the mid-eighteen hundreds British scientist James Ayscough started to research colored glass, and the possibility that such technology might be used to improve vision impaired vision. As successful as he was, it was not until 1929 that the assumption that glasses could filter the sun's rays was given any heavy consideration. At that point, U.S. Optical company, Foster Grant, started to develop the idea further, till ultimately, later that very same year, the 1st ever pair of sunglasses were sold from a Woolworth's store on the Atlantic Town boardwalk.
Spotting the new technology might be favourable to their pilots, the U.S. Army Air Corps asked another prominent American enterprise, Bausch & Lomb, to develop eyeglasses that would protect the eyes from the dangers of the glaring sun, when flying.
It was U.S. Eyeglass company, Ray-Ban, who actually ran with the idea. In 1936, utilising the recently available polarized lenses, and a wide frame that offered ultimate protection from the sheen of an instrument panel, Ray-Ban started to produce a lens that banned the sun's rays. Some three years on, this model of sunglass so favored by pilots, became readily available to the North American public. Ray-Ban 'aviators ' were born.
As North Americans came of age, so too did their eyewear. Across the war years Ray-Ban continued its working cooperation with the Air Force, making Gradient mirror lenses that managed to be both highly practical and fashionable simultaneously. There was something about that American flyer in his troublesome brown leather flight jacket, whose sunglasses hid his eyes. Ray-Ban had just made sunglasses attractive.
Ubiquitous in the 1950's, sunglasses became more than just eye protection. Worn by A-list stars in Vegas and Hollywood -stars whose every move was reviewed and emulated all over the country- sunglasses turned into a fashion accessory, and Ray-Ban was quick to deal with the accelerating trend for new designs and colorful frames, which they promoted to women in particular.
Keeping abreast of scifi technology, the company developed shatterproof lenses in the 1960's and the popularity of sunglasses kept on rising when fashion icon Jackie Kennedy was sometimes seen with her trademark, oversized frames. On the big screen, sunglasses were becoming a vital part of any actor's costume, with picture stars like Peter Fonda and Audrey Hepburn, playing fashionable, sunglass-wearing, characters who managed to hide their eyes from the fans and remain convincing.
Ray-Ban continued to develop new styles and designs in the 1970's and 1980's: their 'Wings ' model was a real forerunner to the very modern, half-frame, lens of today. In the time of American Television cop shows, like Starsky & Hutch, and Chips, the mirrored lenses once so popular in the 1940's, started to reappear. Ray-Ban was retro.
Trendy and modern, cool and retro, Ray-Ban remains at the leading edge of sunglass manufacturing to this very day no mean feat when one considers the competition out there. Undoubtedly, the company may continue to have staying power in the industry, because across the decades it has evolved with the country to give folks exactly what they desire for their eyes: the trusty protection of a hi-tech pair of sunglasses, and the major 'cool ' of a damn horny pair of shades.
About the Author:
Pierre Kayham has been writing about fashion, sunglasses and eyeglasses for more than 10 years. To get more information on Versace Sunglasses (French: lunette Versace) and Tom Ford Sunglasses (French: lunette Tom Ford) please visit our site.
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