The history of Ray Ban
At Direct Sight we’re very proud to host such a broad stock of a brand as iconic and enshrined in rich history as Ray Ban in our Ray Ban glasses and Ray Ban sunglasses range.
To commemorate our love of their everlasting chic, we thought we’d take a walk through Ray Ban’s past and present to see exactly how they became synonymous with style as they are today.
Ray Ban all began back in 1936, when eye health brand Bausch & Lomb answered the call of Lieutenant John Macready to create sunglasses that would protect from dangerous sunlight and look sophisticated in the process.
Just one year later, the timeless Aviator style we know today was made available to the public with gold metal and green lenses, and the design was quickly taken up by the US Air Corps and the army who wanted their soldiers to be functioning their best and looking good while doing it.
It was when General Douglas MacArthur stepped off the Philippines beach in World War II though that the look became immortalised in fashion and exclusivity, and from then on the Aviator became increasingly popular amongst the public.
Following further military successes and even appearances in the movies, Ray Ban created the Ray Ban Wayfarer in 1952 with a plastic frame and more solid design. Immediately popular with the public and with more celebrity fans than ever, the Wayfarer joined the ranks of the Aviator as an internally cool style and today we at Direct Sight stock the two in more colours and designs than ever in our Ray Ban glasses and Ray Ban sunglasses range.
76 years of Ray Ban and the designs are stronger than ever. We’re huge fans of the brand at Direct Sight HQ, and we hope this brief history has been as indulgent for you as it has for us.