Ray-Ban, Endurance in a brand
The Beginnings
Ray ban sunglasses, which have now become a ubiquitous staple among the fashion conscious sunglass wearer, had their humble beginnings as a result of a request from a test pilot of the United States Army Air Corp: Lieutenant John A. Macready. He had recently returned from a balloon flight and complained that the sun had given permanent damage to his eyes. He requested the company Bausch & Lomb to create sunglasses which would both look elegant and protect his sight. The now famous design became known as the Ray Ban Aviators and was officially patented in 1937.
Initial Fame
Ray Ban Gained its initial shot to fame when General Douglas MacArthur, of WWII notoriety, was photographed wearing a pair of the Aviators when landing on a beach in the Philippines. As Army and Navy issued items were a popular part of 1940s fashion, the civilian population also started to sport the Aviator glasses which had been eagerly accepted by the military establishment.
Hollywood Enters the Picture
After WWII, Hollywood began to have a much bigger influence over what people wore and helped to dictate the fashion of the time. In 1952 Ray Ban Sunglasses’ Wayfarer model was released to the world and quickly gained fame as James Dean wore them in his 1955 film “Rebel Without a Cause” and Audrey Hepburn sporting them in 1961′s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. With the help of these two stars, the Wayfarer became instantly recognizable wherever they were worn. Originally designed to appeal to men, women also fell in love with the design as they seemed to complement any face when worn.
Icons and Ray Ban Sunglasses
As the Ray Ban steam engine kept on rolling icons of the movement of culture could be seen wearing their Wayfarers, well known names such as Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe, Roy Orbison, and John Lennon could all be seen sporting their Ray Ban Sunglasses which helped make everyone, from teenagers to adults, want to adopt such popular looking shades. Peter Fonda wore Ray Bans in the 1969 film “Easy Rider” and Clint Eastwood in his 1971 film “Dirty Harry”
The Days of Disco and Beyond
The 1970s brought disco, and along with it a culture all of its own. This was not lost on the Ray Ban company and thus several models were introduced. In the 1980s Ray Ban Sunglasses found a new resurgence, as their Wayfarer model was featured in “The Blues Brothers” and “Risky Business”, while the Aviator was worn by Tom Cruise in “Top Gun”. Michael Jackson wore both Aviators and Wayfarers, the latter on his Bad tour from 1987-1989, cementing Ray Ban’s place on the forefront of pop culture.
Ray Ban Today
After Bausch & Lomb sold the brand to the Italian Luxottica Group in 1999, the brand continued to move forward and represent more than just protection from the sun. It had been on the forefront of culture movements in every decade of its existence from the 1930s and undoubtedly will continue to be so for years to come.
About the Author
The author is Ariele Monsarra, of Florence, Italy, birthplace of the Gucci collections. He is a best selling mystery author of Borgia.
