A Quick History of 5 Sunglasses Brands and What You Can Learn From Them

                     

Did you ever think about how there’s life lessons everywhere you look? You can have a revelation while watching your favorite sitcom and even while grocery shopping. We had a look through the history of the most popular sunglasses brands of the moment and found that there’s something to learn from each one:

Ray Ban

Founded in 1937, the brand was a big success in the 50s, 60s and 80s, but experienced large gaps in sales in the decades in between. Their 2007 campaign, “Never Hide”, brought them back to the attention of the public and turned them into the bestselling sunglasses of our time.

Persol

The company started in 1917, and 40 years later they created a model targeted at tram drivers, who needed large sunglasses for protection against dust and light. The model (649) was worn by Marcello Mastroianni and Steve McQueen and is still an iconic design now.

Oakley

The brand started out with a $300 investment back in 1975, selling motorcycle grips and accessories. The founder invented Unobtanium, and he used it on earsocks for a pair of goggles in the 80s. The sports glasses took off and the brand is now one of the most valuable eye wear brands around.

Prada: Don’t be afraid to look outside the box.

The famous Italian fashion house was founded in 1913 as a leather goods company. It extended into ready-to-wear in 1989 to great success. They started designing eyewear in 1999, and they’re now known for their creative, fashionable sunglasses worldwide. Click here for more great styles and selection.

Calvin Klein: Be ahead of your time.

What started out in 1968 as a coat shop in New York was soon to become synonymous with American fashion. As early as 1973, the brand branched into clothing, and by 1977 they were already selling eyewear, shoes and sheets, among others. The brand now has over 10 subsidiary labels.

This guest post was written by Daria P. who also contributes for GlassesOnWeb.com and CelebritySunglassesWatcher.com; she also runs her own fashion blog called Kittenhood.