Ray-Ban

founded by

Bausch & Lomb

belongs to

Luxottica Group

about

Ray-Ban is a manufacturer of high-end sunglasses, founded in 1937 by Bausch & Lomb. They were introduced for the United States Army Air Corps. In 1999, Bausch & Lomb sold the brand to the Italian Luxottica Group for a reported $1.2billion.

Ray-Bans were created in 1937. Some years earlier, Lieutenant John MacCready returned from a balloon flying adventure and complained that the sun had permanently damaged his eyes. He contacted Bausch & Lomb asking them to create sunglasses that would provide protection and also look elegant. On May 7, 1937, Bausch & Lomb took out the patent. The prototype, known as Anti-Glare, had an extremely light frame weighing 150 grams. They were made of gold-plated metal with green lenses made of mineral glass to filter out infrared and ultraviolet rays. Pilots in the United States Army Air Corps 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, and photographers snapped several pictures of him wearing them.

Ray-Ban includes seven main lines in their sunglasses collection. These are Families, Icons, Active lifestyle, High street, Fast and furious, Tech and Craft. The sunglasses manufactured by Ray-Ban are intended for people of different ages, from the youngest to the oldest. Therefore, many designs are conservative and suitable for older individuals who are looking for a more serious and sober look, and others come in powerful solid colors or daring prints.