Ray-Ban Sets the Rules for Eyewear Fashion Trends

The secret to why Ray-Ban sunglasses in particular have been at the forefront of fashion lies within the direction of the company itself over the past 90+ years. The creation of the Ray-Ban image begins with the time the company was first formed to create sunglasses and prescription glasses not for the general public, but for a specific group of people who were experiencing issues that affected their general health. 

The History of Ray-Ban Sunglasses

The origins of Ray-Ban prescription glasses and sunglasses had relatively simple origins. In the 1920s when powered flight was still mostly done in open cockpits, the pilots of the US Army Air Service had reported that the intense glare of the sun was giving them altitude sickness along with troubling headaches. In 1929, a New York based medical equipment firm Bausch & Lomb was asked to create sunglasses for these Army pilots that curbed the amount of sunlight along with the intense colours and hues of blue and white in the sky. 

By 1936, a prototype created with green lenses and plastic frames called "Anti-Glare” glasses had been produced. Within a year, the sunglasses were perfected and branded as "Ray-Ban Aviator” sunglasses. By 1939, the success of the Aviator glasses had led Ray-Ban to create a new version called the Outdoorsman. Over the next few years as World War II broke out, Ray-Ban glasses became more advanced, using gradient lenses along with mirrored ones as well. 

The combination of advancements plus their distribution to pilots in particular gave Ray-Ban a unique place in fashion history. They had created practical eyewear that became highly desired, especially after the war for their "cool” appearance. Being associated with the aviation industry, which was one of the most technically advanced and romantic as well helped propel the popularity of Ray-Bans into the fashion world.

However, that leap into fashion took another step forward in 1952 when Ray-Ban created their "Wayfarer” model that was worn by highly popular celebrities such as James Dean in the 1955 film, "Rebel Without a Cause”. The Hollywood trend continued into the 1960s with Peter Fonda wearing the Olympian version in "Easy Rider” and Clint Eastwood in "Magnum Force” in 1973. Over the next two decades, Ray-Bans were seen on a regular basis in films such as "The Blues Brothers” and "Risky Business” which helped broadens their appeal to a younger audience.

Today, Ray-Bans are just as much a part of today’s fashion as ever before. Their long history and prominent place has simply augmented their status as a fashion icon. For teenagers and adults, the latest version of Ray-Ban prescription glasses and sunglasses are highly desired for their durable frames, high quality lenses and cool appearance that resonates just as powerfully today as it did when aviators first wore the Ray-Ban brand back in the mid-1930s.