Updated April 27, 2024
Celebrated each year on June 27th, National Sunglasses Day gains popularity each year. Organizations like The Vision Council is one of the reasons. They inform people about the dangers of UV exposure and why wearing sunglasses should be more than to just make a fashion statement.
- 12th Century – In the 12th century, the Chinese made sunglasses lenses out of flat panes of smoky quartz.
- 1752 – The concept of tinted spectacle lenses was first conceived in 1752 by an English optician named James Ayscough
- 1900s – Sunglasses become widely used, especially among Hollywood celebrities
- 1929 – Sam Foster sold the first pair of sunglasses, Foster Grants, at the Woolworth on Atlantic City Boardwalk. He started the Foster Grant Company in 1919 to make combs
- 1930s – One of the most popular models in eyewear history, the green-tinted Ray-Ban Aviator was originally invented in the early 1930s to protect pilots from the hazards of high-altitude glare.
- 1936 – Edwin H. Land combined his lens-making skills with his patented Polaroid filter, creating the first polarized sunglasses.
- 1937 – Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses become the hottest accessory with celebrities and the rest of society.
- 1953 – First appearing in 1953 and worn by countless celebrities, from James Dean to Andy Warhol to Tom Cruise, the Ray-Ban Wayfarer is reported to be the best-selling style in history.
- 1964 – Photochromic or transition lenses were invented in 1964 by William Armistead and Stanley Stookey.
- 2005 – men’s sunglasses were selling every 90 seconds on eBay.
- Sunglasses were “invented” 2,000 years ago. The Inuit (Eskimos) created snow goggles from animal bone, leather, and wood. There were small slits that allowed only the tiniest of light through. This effectively shielded the eyes from the blinding glare of sunlight reflected off the snow.
- Italian eyeglass conglomerate Luxottica owns nearly every popular brand of sunglasses sold worldwide as well as Sunglass Hut..
- Ray-Ban aviators are amongst the best-selling sunglasses of all time.
- In the United States, someone loses, breaks, or sits on a pair of sunglasses every 14 minutes.
- According to research, a pair of glasses is sold every 90 seconds on E-bay.
- Around four million pairs of eyewear contribute to the yearly wastage
- It is believed that Sir Elton John’s collection of sunglasses accounts for over 250,000 pairs, making his inventory one of the most exclusive collections.
- The debate on whether eyebrows should show when wearing sunglasses is unresolved. Some think it is a matter of face shape; others view the presence of eyebrows above the glass rim as a heinous crime. There appears to be no right answer.
- The first fashion brand to get a license to manufacture eyewear was Christian Dior.
- Initially, Chinese judges used sunglasses in the courtroom to get emotionally detached and hide their expressions during the court hearing.
- Quick quiz: Name three songs that feature sunglasses:
- Sunglasses at Night by Corey Hart (1983)
- Cheap Sunglasses by ZZ Top (1979)
- The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades by Timbuk 3 (1986)
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