Ray-Ban

Ray-Ban

File:Logo ray ban.jpg
Company type	Subsidiary of Luxottica Group S.p.a.
Founded	1937
Founder	Bausch & Lomb
Headquarters	Agordo, Veneto , Italy
Products	High End Eyewear and Sunglasses
Website	www.ray-ban.com

Ray-Ban is a high-end manufacturer of sunglasses, founded in 1937 by Bausch & Lomb. They were introduced for the United States Air Force, and several Hollywood films found them to be very elegant. In 1999, Bausch & Lomb sold the brand to the Italian Luxottica Group for a reported 1.2 billion dollars. Ray-Ban is responsible for making the two most imitated sunglasses in the world: the Aviator and the Wayfarer. Introduced to the silver screen in 1961, the unique Ray-Ban lifestyle is embodied in its collections, reflected throughout hundreds of films, and remains the choice eyewear brand of celebrities both in real life and in films.

History

Aviator Large Metal sunglasses
(RB3025 004/58)

New Wayfarer sunglasses
(RB2132 901L)

File:Russell Ray Bans.jpg

Ray-Ban Aviators are very popular in the young generations

Ray-Bans were initially created in 1937 after lieutenant John MacCready had returned from a balloon flying adventure in 1920. He complained that the sun had done permanent damage to his eyes. He contacted Bausch & Lomb asking them to create a type of sunglasses that would not only provide superb protection, but also look elegant. On May 7, 1937, Bausch & Lomb officially took out the patent. The prototype, known as Anti-Glare, consisted of an extremely light frame weighing 150 grams. They were made of gold-plated metal with two green lenses made of mineral glass to filter out infrared and ultraviolet rays. Pilots in the United States Air Force immediately adopted the sunglasses. The Ray-Ban Aviator became a well-known style of sunglasses when General Douglas MacArthur landed on the beach in the Philippines in World War II. Photographers snapped several pictures of him wearing them for newspapers, and Americans instantly fell in love with them.

Entertainment

Hundreds of Ray-Ban Sunglasses have made appearances in Hollywood films; the first dates back to the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s, staring Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly. Later, the popularity of Ray-Ban sunglasses was confirmed in the Hollywood hit Blues Brothers staring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi [1]. Later, Tom Cruise added his own contribution in 1983 hit Risky Business.

Honda F1 Racing Team

In July 2004, Ray-Ban officially became partners with the Honda Racing F1 Team. For 2006 and years to follow, the distinctive Ray-Ban signature will continue to appear on the cockpit sides of the Honda Racing F1 Team’s RA106 race car throughout the season, along with a new prominent position on the helmet visors of race drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, and third driver Anthony Davidson Honda Racing News. Honda Racing F1 Team members wore the Ray-Ban 4075 sunglasses model from its spring and summer 2006 sun collection.

Sundance Film Festival

Ray-Ban is partners in the annual Sundance Film Festival for independent filmmakers. Ray-Ban has been partners with the film festival since 2003. Every year at the festival the Ray-Ban visionary award is given to an individual whose active worth in the film industry showcases vision, imagination and originality. People who receive the award are dedicated individuals who possess extraordinary passion, creativity, and leadership. Previous award winners include Quentin Tarantino, Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon, Colin Callender and Mark Ordesky.

See also

• Ray-Ban Aviator
• Ray-Ban Wayfarer
• Sunglass Hut - also owned by Luxottica and features Ray-Ban

External links

• Ray-Ban global site
• Ray-Ban Sunglasses (www.fashionxonline.co.nz)
• History of Branding
• History of Fashion
• Honda Racing News