Choosing Cool Sunglasses in this Summer

There is something regarding a pair of sunglasses that makes them arguably one of the most quintessential ‘must-have’ items of all time. Not only are they immensely practical, offering defense from the dangers of the sun, they are an enormously versatile fashion accessory, available in a vast range of styles, colors and prices to suit every pocket. Given their global popularity, sunglass manufacturing has become an extremely lucrative, but highly competitive industry and while some manufacturers rise and wane in the public affections, there is one company that remains forever synonymous with the eyeglasses that defend our eyes from the rays of the sun: Ray-Ban

Although Us President, Benjamin Franklin, is frequently credited with inventing eyeglasses (he was the one who developed the first bifocal lens in the 1780′s), the first reading glasses were developed in Italy, as early as 1260. People continued to be fascinated by all things optical during the centuries that followed, then, in the mid-eighteen hundreds British scientist James Ayscough began to research tinted glass, and the possibility that such technology may be used to improve vision impaired eyesight. As victorious as he was, it was not until 1929 that the idea that glasses could filter the sun’s rays was given any serious thought. At that time, U.S. optical company, Foster Grant, began to develop the idea further, until lastly, later that similar year, the first ever pair of sunglasses were sold from a Woolworth’s store on the Atlantic City boardwalk.

Recognizing that the new expertise could be positive to their pilots, the U.S. Army Air Corps asked another prominent American company, Bausch and Lomb, to develop eyeglasses that would defend the eyes from the dangers of the glaring sun, when flying.

It was U.S. eyeglass company, Ray-Ban, who really ran with the concept. In 1936, using the newly available polarized lenses, and a wide frame that offered maximum protection from the sheen of an instrument panel, Ray-Ban began to produce a lens that banned the sun’s rays. Some 3 years later, this model of sunglass so fashionable with pilots, became readily available to the American public. Ray-Ban ‘aviators’ were born.

As Americans came of age, so too did their eyewear. During the war years Ray-Ban nonstop its working partnership with the Air Force, creating Gradient mirror lenses that managed to be both highly practical and fashionable at the same time. There was something regarding that American flyer in his tough brown leather flight jacket, whose sunglasses hid his eyes.

Ever-present in the 1950′s, sunglasses became more than just eye defense. Worn by A-list celebrities in Vegas and Hollywood stars whose every move was scrutinized and emulated all over the country- sunglasses became a fashion accessory, and Ray-Ban was fast to accommodate the growing fashion for new designs and colorful frames, which they marketed to women in particular.

Keeping abreast of space age technology, the company developed shatterproof lenses in the 1960′s and the popularity of sunglasses nonstop to increase when fashion icon Jackie Kennedy was frequently seen with her brand, oversized frames. On the silver screen, sunglasses were becoming an essential part of any actor’s costume, with movie stars like Peter Fonda and Audrey Hepburn, playing stylish, sunglass wearing, characters who were able to hide their eyes from the audience and remain convincing.

Ray-Ban continued to increase new styles and designs in the 1970′s and 1980′s: their ‘Wings’ model was indeed a forerunner to the extremely modern, half-frame, lens of nowadays. In the era of American TV cop shows, like Star sky and Hutch, and Chips, the mirrored lenses once so well-liked in the 1940′s, began to come back. Ray-Ban was retro.

Fashionable and modern, funky and retro, Ray-Ban remains at the front position of sunglass manufacturing to this day, no mean feat when one considers the competition out there. Unquestionably, the company will carry on having staying power in the industry, because during the decades it has evolved with the nation to give people right what they want for their eyes: the reliable protection of a hi-tech pair of sunglasses, and the serious ‘cool’ of a damn sexy pair of shades.