Designer Sunglasses - Learn about the Different Brands

Designer Sunglasses - Learn about the Different Brands

There are now many different brands of designer sunglasses which have either evolved in their own right, such as Ray Ban or Oakley, or have been created as an accessory to the fashion house brands, such as Gucci and Versace etc. This article examines the backgrounds to these different designer brands, tracing back to their roots and finding out how they were first created and grew into the well-known high street fashion brands that we all desire to wear. Learn about Oakley, Rayban, Dolce and Gabbana, Diesel, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Prada, Tommy Hilfiger, and Versace.
1. Oakley SunglassesOakley is mostly known for their quality sunglasses and ski goggles, and was founded by Jim Jannard in California,USA in 1975, where he developed motorbike hand grips, and then sold them at motocross events. He called them “The Oakley Grip”, and were very different to any other grips riders had been using. In the 1980’s he moved on to goggles and sunglasses, and is now a world leader in innovative design, creating new and exciting products.
UV and impact protectionPlutonite is used for all Oakley lenses. It is made of polycarbonate, making the lenses lightweight, offering superior comfort, clarity and protection against ultraviolet radiation and impact resistance. In fact, this impact resistant material blocks out 100% of all UVA, UVB and UVC radiation. The protection is formulated into the lens material, as opposed to a thin surface film that can become scratched, leaving dilated pupils exposed to ultraviolet leaks. Shielding has nothing to do with the darkness or colour of the lens, so even clear non-tinted Oakley lenses will still provide full UV protection.The wrapped around, raked-back design of Oakley eyewear provides further protection by blocking UV from the periphery. The lens materials and frame geometries of Oakley sunglasses provide unsurpassed protection against high-velocity and high-mass impact.
Iridium lens coatingsThis is a uniform filtering layer that optimizes contrast and minimizes glare, created by super-heated metallic oxides being fused to the lens at a molecular level, permanently bonding to the lens. Tuned to transmit from 9 to 92% of available light, the coatings are specifically formulated for optimal balance between reflection, transmission and absorption.
PolarizationEvery single pair of Oakley polarized sunglasses achieves 99.9% efficiency in blocking polarized light waves. Harsh glare is caused by light waves bouncing off flat surfaces and water, and can be up to 10 times as bright as ambient light. With Oakley polarized lenses you’ll definitely keep the sun from impeding your vision.Oakley’s polarization technology surpasses industry standards for clarity, performance and durability. Common techniques of incorporating polarization films into lenses by lamination (using adhesive to sandwich the film between lens layers) and drop forming (sandwiching then heating and pressing over contoured forms) can cause haziness and optical distortion. Oakley uses an injection-moulding process to infuse the lens material around the filter. This liquid fusion creates bonding at a molecular level, allowing the filter to achieve the highest possible level of performance.
Hydrophobic (repels water)The hydrophobic lenses repel water, oil perspiration and dust. Liquids simply bead off the lens surface without streaking, and any liquids that do not slide off the lens by gravity can be more easily wiped away than with other makes of sunglasses, making cleaning your lenses a breeze.
Oleophobic (repels oils)The oleophobic characteristics end the frustration experienced with oils, fingerprints and other smudges on conventional eyewear. These marks on your Oakley sunglasses will easily wipe away without residue, eliminating leftover haze and reducing the effort required to clean the lenses.
Anti-staticThe anti-static properties mean that dust, dirt and other particles are not drawn to the lens via static electricity. Dirt and dust degrade optical clarity, prompt more frequent cleaning and increase the likelihood of scratching.
3-Point fitOakley sunglasses are engineered to maintain a comfortable, secure fit. The company’s patented “Three-Point Fit” ensures that each frame makes contact only at the bridge of the nose and behind the temples. This retains optics in perfect alignment and eliminates the discomfort of ordinary frames that hook the ears and mount with unbalanced pressure points. Some earstems are sheathed in “unobtainium”, an Oakley innovation that actually increases grip with perspiration.
UnobtainiumThis is the name of Oakley’s hydrophilic (water-attracting) synthetic rubber that increases grip when wet, usually applied to the contact points of the sunglasses (nose and sides of the head). A very similar material was used in Oakley’s first product, the “Oakley grips”, used on motorcycle hand grips (mentioned earlier).
Frame compositionEngineering breakthroughs in structural materials allow Oakley to produce lightweight, high performance eyewear frames that maintain superior comfort and protection. The polymers used in “O Matter” frames (a nylon composite) are formulated for high durability, as well as controlled flexibility for improved safety during impact. To produce the ultra–strong, ultra-lightweight chassis of Oakley wire frames, five metallic compounds (including titanium) are fused into a single C-5 alloy. Both frame materials maintain resistance to ultraviolet radiation, humidity, thermal shock and chemical exposure.
X MetalOakley “X Metal” is a titanium alloy, and is the only 3-D sculpted, hypoallergenic, all-metal frame on earth. Its phenomenal strength-to-weight ratio maximizes comfort and durability. To maintain precise optical geometries, production pieces are analysed under real-time X-ray scanning and undergo five-axis machining in computerized systems that maintain 0.0005” tolerance.