RAY BANS

Since 1937, Ray-Ban has been shaping popular culture with its perennial styles and ground-breaking technologies, making its revolutionary debut into the market as a response to the progression of aviation in America. As airplanes flew higher into the sky, many US Air Force pilots complained about the harsh glare from the sun. Ray-Ban stepped in to create new anti-glare eyewear in the now classic Aviator shape. It didn’t take long for the news of Ray-Ban’s success to spread from pilots to anyone with an outdoor lifestyle.

In the wake of WWII, Ray-Ban launched the 1952 Wayfarer model, featuring a thick acetate frame in contrast to the previous thin-framed Aviator style. Becoming a huge hit in the world of Hollywood and celebrities, they were seen on famous stars such as James Dean in 1955’s Rebel Without a Cause and on Audrey Hepburn in 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The Wayfarer became one of the most instantly recognisable fashion items in history.