The Coolest Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

Not sure what it is, but you've got to admit, sunglasses are the most gotta have clothing accessory in the world. Not counting the must have clothing items, can you think of anything that rivals sunglasses as the most widely seen fashion item wherever you are? Besides coming in a huge range of styles and prices, they are very practical. I don't know about you, but on a bright day even if the sun isn't shinning, I have to wear my "shades". Given their universal popularity, sunglass manufacturing is a very lucrative industry. As a result, it's also highly competitive. Manufacturers come and go as do styles and shapes, but one company has stood the test of time. This manufacturer forever remains the company that protects our eyes from the rays of the sun...Ray_Ban.

It's often thought that Benjamin Franklin invented glasses, but that isn't quite true. Yes he did invent the bifocal lens in the 1780's, but he didn't invent reading glasses. They were developed in Italy as early as 1260. Years went by and people were fascinated with what you could do with lenses and optical glass. Sometime during the mid 1800's, a British scientist began experimenting with lenses by tinting them. Years rolled by with not much happening with tinted lenses until a US company, Foster Grant, began to see the advantage of protecting the eyes with these tinted lenses. It's been reported that the first ever pair of sunglasses were sold form a Woolworth's store on the Atlantic City boardwalk in 1929. I wonder how much they cost?

Later, the US Government got involved via the U.S. Army Air Corps. They realized the advantage of tinted lenses or sunglasses for pilots. They contacted another optical company, Bausch & Lomb, to develop tinted eyeglasses for pilots while flying and exposed to glaring sun.

Yet another company, Ray-Ban, saw the opportunity and started to manufacture sunglasses with a newly developed technology of polarized lenses. They also went for a wide frame with a large lens to give the pilots maximum protection. Several years later, the style of sunglasses so popular and practical to pilots was made available to the public. Ray-Ban 'aviators' were born.

Through the war years Ray-Ban continued its partnership with the Air Force. It developed gradient mirror lenses to not only become very protective but fashionable. I guess there something sexy about those fly boys in their tough brown leather flight jackets with sunglasses that hide their eyes.

During the 1950's, sunglasses became more than eye protection. The celebrities of the time who were photographed unendingly were often wearing sunglasses. Ray-Ban saw the growing trend and fashioned new designs and colors. Marketing to women with these new colorful styles, they became more popular.

Shatterproof lenses in the 1960's and the popularity of sunglasses worn by the fashion icon Jackie Kennedy increased Ray-Ban's market share. Silver-screen stars like Peter Fonda and Audrey Hepburn who could play characters wearing sunglasses and being convincing in the role, increased the 'Coolness' of sunglasses.

The 1970's and 80's saw the American TV cop shows like "Starsky & Hutch" and "Chips" stars wearing mirrored lenses. These were popular 30 years earlier and were brought back to popularity by these TV personalities.

There you have it, Ray-Ban has staying power as it develops sunglasses for the American people utilizing the latest technology wrapped in styles people want. The 'coolness' factor is built into our collective psyche and we look to Ray-Ban to provide us with those perfect pair of shades.