The most iconic and widely recognized eyewear brand, Ray-Ban, is synonymous with timeless glasses. They were born to fill a niche in the optics business almost a century ago and continue to cement the brand as one of the world’s most popular.
Do you know the brand’s history? Want to see how they’ve kept their legacy of leadership alive? Let’s take a look.
The birth of the Ray-Ban brand
Created by Bausch & Lomb in 1937, Ray-Ban was the first company in the U.S. to produce optical glass. While demand for optical instruments increased during the First World War, they began expanding their product line and research in military optics.
They had already created special lenses to limit glare for army pilots, while Bausch & Lomb designed a similar eyeglass for the mass market. The aviator-style sunglasses were introduced to the general public in 1937 and consequently named the Ray-Ban Aviator.
The inspiration behind the name, Ray-Ban, is straightforward. After the brand began developing eyewear for pilots looking to reduce glare while flying, the name was eventually derived from the ability to ban a ray of light.
Ray-Ban over the years
The aviator was the first widely produced Ray-Ban sunglass style, but certainly not the last. Hollywood continued to usher in a surge of popularity of sunglass shapes from famous films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Rebel Without a Cause.
The eyewear brand became a symbol of Hollywood as they continued to elevate these famous characters. The brand also followed suit from Shuron Ronsirs, designing their browline frames, named the Clubmaster, that turned Ray-Ban into one the top producers of browline glasses in the 1960s.
Ray-Ban began to see a slight decline in popularity until, once again, a movie came to save the day. Ray-Ban was featured by Tom Cruise in the popular movie Top Gun and again in Risky Business.
Feast your eyes on some modern day Ray-Bans
While the brand is known for its timeless styles, they’ve also been at the forefront of modern trends, embracing the trends as they have come over the years. Not only can you pick up a classic style like the aviator or the wayfarer, but you can also expect to see fashionable picks from the brand as well, all with the dependability and sophistication you know and love.
While styles are timeless for a reason, we’ve gathered a few trendy sunglasses from this iconic brand to liven up your wardrobe.
Shop some of today’s favorites below:
An elevated cat eye frame gets a modern update with cool tinted lenses and caramel-tone marble frames for the perfect juxtaposition of contemporary and timeless.
The Olympian frames offer a glamorous update to a sporty shape, showcasing a gold browline and sleek black lenses for a captivating color palette and interesting silhouette.
If you’re looking to upgrade your every day, octangular frames offer a quirky and playful shape compared to silhouettes like round or rectangular. Keep things bold with all black or opt for an airy look with translucent blush instead.
Aptly named the Mega Wayfarer, Ray-Ban updated its classic style with a chunky side arm taking these from classic and monotonous to drama-filled.
Shield-style sunglasses have already dominated the trend circle, but when implemented into eyeglasses, they offer a fresh and modern look. Paired with a chic dark navy and cream color palette, these frames pack a surprising punch.
Colored lenses are all the rage right now. Take these blue-tinted frames complete with matching ’90s-inspired rectangular silhouettes for a modern look that comes straight from the past.
