When you mention the word sunglasses most people immediately think of Ray-Ban which is, without any doubt, the best know name in the world of sunglasses.
Ray-Ban sunglasses were launched in 1937 with the introduction of the Aviator brand which is as popular today as it was nearly seventy years ago and which set the standard for American sunglasses.
The Aviator was developed at the request of the United States military to help pilots flying daylight missions and, in particular, to assist pilots during dogfights. The distinctive oversized tear-drop shaped lenses, which were both curved and reflective, and the thin metal frames created a very distinctive look.
Today the use of Aviators has spread beyond the world of military pilots and they are popular with law enforcement officers, rock and heavy metal bands, skateboarders and young people in general. Nowadays Aviator sunglasses are often colored and mirrored to add to their effect and fashion appeal.
The appearance of Aviator sunglasses in the film Top Gun, where they were worn by Tom Cruise and the other leading actors, again boosted their popularity and one report suggested that sales rose by as much as forty percent following the film.
Another extremely popular Ray-Ban style is the Wayfarer. Popularized by Hollywood celebrities such as James Dean, the Wayfarer has enjoyed incredible success since it started in production more than fifty years ago in 1953 and it is believed to be the best selling style of all time.
Wayfarers gained a considerable boost in popularity during the 1980s when they were worn by characters in the film "The Blues Brothers" and in televisions "Miami Vice". Indeed, it is not uncommon for actors who wish to portray a flamboyantly cool character to don a black leather jacket and a pair of Wayfarers. The list of those seen sporting a pair of Wayfarers is very long indeed and includes such names as Jack Nicholson, Dan Akroyd, John F. Kennedy, Kurt Russell, John Belushi, Rob Lowe, Madonna, Patti Smith, Bob Dylan and Andy Warhol.
Ray-Ban sunglasses can justifiably be described as an icon and, as long as they continue to remain a firm favorite with celebrities from the world of film and television especially, they are set to remain as one of the world's leading brands of sunglasses for many years to come.
After all it's not just the youngsters who will remember Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones sporting Ray-Bans in "Men In Black" or Tom Cruise wearing a pair of Wayfarers in "Risky Business", but who can forget the classic Ray Ban Baloroma sunglasses worn by Clint Eastwood in the "Dirty Harry" films?
Ray-Ban sunglasses are manufactured under license by Luxottica who are arguably the world wide leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of mid to premium priced prescription eyeglass frames and sunglasses. Luxottica Group is also the leader in distribution, with approximately 5,300 optical and specialty run stores and a distribution network in North America and the Asia-Pacific region through LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut and other chains. Luxottica Group added to its North American presence during 2004 with the purchase of Cole National and its chains of Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical and BJ's Optical.
The classic Ray-Ban is understandably the world's best selling brand of sunglasses and Ray-Ban sunglasses have set a standard for excellence which will be hard to beat.