Let’s talk about accessories.  As with every product there are many companies and brands offering similar products on the market, but some brands are more popular than others. When talking about high-quality sunglasses this is Ray-Ban. This brand is one of the most popular in the world, never fading out of style. However, what I have noticed is that people pass Ray-Ban ads and shops every day without actually thinking what Ray-Banstands for.

Again, time for some brand/company history… Ray-Ban is a brand of sunglasses, originally founded by a company called Bausch & Lomb. Although the company sold the popular brand to another one in 1999, the sunglasses became famous during the ownership of the founders. Bausch & Lomb was founded in 1853 in the States as a workshop producing monocles. Later, products included microscopes, spectacles, camera lenses, telescopes, binoculars, projectors etc – thanks to collaboration with Zeiss (the famous German manufacturer of optical systems). But enough about the company. In the 1930’s a Lieutenant John Macready, who was an American test pilot and aviator, returned from another flight complaining about the sunlight which was constantly damaging his eyes. He got in touch with Bausch & Lomb to work on a pair of sunglasses which would protect his eyes from the rays but would also not clash with his sophisticated appearance. The sunglasses were used by the army, and became increasingly popular after several camera shots of General Douglas MacArthur, who landed on a beach in the Philippines, wearing them. The model was called Aviator and was successful for its look and for being very useful – their green lenses filtered ultraviolet and infrared rays.

Basically, they were banning the sun rays form the eyes. Naturally, the brand name Ray-Ban was established and after this another famous model was released – the Wayfarer. Famous actors, TV stars and others were wearing the sunglasses which helped for their international popularization. Even today they are one of the best-known sunglasses brand, preferred by famous and non-famous people, and their designs are unmistakable (except for maybe some good copycats who try to re-create the designs).

If we have got you interested in the naming of the famous accessory company, check out our articles on some other accessory brands like Rolex and Zippo.