Ray Ban: Seeing Beyond The Sun
If there's one brand that binds together multiple generations then it has be Ray Ban. Whether it's the grandparent connecting it to James Dean or Malcolm X or the parents whose icon Tom Cruise killed it with this aviators in Top Gun or to the current generation who connect the brand to being uber-cool, Rayban is truly a classic like no other.
Let’s try and revisit the brand’s roots…
where it all began.
Brand Heritage
In 1929, US Army Air Corps Colonel John A. Macready worked with Bausch & Lomb, a Rochester, New York-based medical equipment manufacturer, to create aviation sunglasses that would reduce the distraction for pilots caused by the intense blue and white hues of the sky. Specifically, MacCready was concerned about how pilots’ goggles would fog up, greatly reducing visibility at high altitude.The prototype, created in 1936 and known as ‘Anti-Glare’, had plastic frames and green lenses that could cut out the glare without obscuring vision. They also added impact-resistant lenses in 1938. The sunglasses were redesigned with a metal frame the following year and patented as the Ray-Ban Aviator.
The glasses used “Kalichrome lenses designed to sharpen details and minimise haze by filtering out blue light, making them ideal for misty conditions.”
Who Wears RayBan?
Everyone. And as the brand claims rightfully, Ray-Ban glasses have been worn by visionaries since 1937. From Malcolm X to James Dean, their ideas and visions challenged their times and are still relevant today.
It’s anyone’s guess about the top two most popular shapes. Yes, it’s the aviators and the wayfarer. And then next in line, it’s the browline shape or what you’d refer to as the Clubmaster Classic.
And the Clubmaster Classic, with its 1950s charm and timeless appeal that has been worn by cultural shapers through the decades. Now they are the go-to choice for tomorrow’s change-makers, who project their focus through Ray-Ban lenses. Fearless changemakers working to create a better future by using their own unique vision and voices to inspire positive change.
And today you have 3 very young icons who are the face of Ray Ban
Aurora Anthony is the embodiment of NYC’s multi-hyphenate culture. His work is a creative dialogue with the Lower East Side, where he lives and works, and takes form in rap music, graffiti art, fashion and design. His brand 100 Wolves has been approved by Beyoncé. 100% devoted to his community, he is a visionary because he dares to take risks: he wants to change the world he knows – defining his own horizons.
Richardson leverages her platform as a model, artist and curator for positive change. She is founder of Art Hoe Collective – an online platform dedicated to giving a voice to artists of colour, and The Brown Girl Butterfly Project – a community of black and brown women and non-binary people. Her art is about imagination. She is building her future the way she wants to see it – supported by a strong community who allow her
to dream.
Tia Jonsson’s personal style and winning personality have won her a loyal following. Her vitiligo, which causes pigment loss on her forehead and a streak of white hair, has always been a badge of honour for the model and student. She’s worked with Rihanna on the debut Savage x Fenty campaign. Her vision is to recognize what you love about yourself and wear it as a badge of pride.
In touch with The times
Ray-Ban has very recently launched a new product category for everyday use. In its mission to protect eyes from UV Rays, they have launched EVERGLASSES
EVERGLASSES encompasses three new lenses: Evolve Photochromic Lenses, Clear Lenses and Blue Light Filter. Targetted to always be on the checklist when one leaves the house, one is never without a pair.
Evolve Photochromic Lenses are light-sensitive, automatically adapting to shifting light conditions. With UV400 protection for almost complete sun protection, the wearer doesn’t even need to take them off. The new Clear Lenses fit Ray-Ban frames, perfectly; defence, comfort and authentic style all in one. Both Evolve and Clear Lenses are also available with a Blue Light Filter, designed to reduce visual discomfort induced by blue light. Perfect for those who are always in front of a screen, EVERGLASSES improve visual comfort in front of digital devices through blue light filtration.
The new EVERGLASSES category comprises a wide selection of styles for every individual and any situation. Style and function should always be inseparable and according to the brand’s, this new category reaffirms that truth for the next generation by adapting to contemporary trends while remaining iconic.
