Surely you have heard about the famous aviator glasses! One of the most iconic sunglasses models in history. You have undoubtedly seen them before, because they are really cool and the truth is that they are almost a “must” in the world of sunglasses. sunglasses.
The aviator glasses either "aviators”, as they are also known, are distinguished by being wide with a thin metal frame, very recognizable by their design with a double bridge adapted to the curve of the nose, which holds their contact lenses in a teardrop shape that gives it its very particular style.
But the truth is that one of the most special features of the aviator glasses It is the way in which its design and size manage to completely cover the eye to guarantee maximum protection against sunlight, using completely dark or reflective contact lenses. And it is that aviator glasses were created especially for this purpose!
Do you already know the history of the aviator glasses? Keep reading to find out the interesting facts hidden behind this iconic pair of glasses that can't be missing from your collection.
What is the origin of Aviator Glasses?
The aviator glasses They have their origins and fame in the Second World War. This historical moment gave rise to the need to develop special glasses to supply mainly aviation pilots, as well as members of the navy and the US army. It is from there that their representative name arises: “Aviator” for the aviators of the USAAAC (United States Army Air Corp.)
The origin of the aviator glasses It is very interesting! It started in the 1930s when the Air Force commissioned the optical products manufacturer Bausch & Lomb to create and design sunglasses specially designed to protect pilots from the sun's rays during their missions, where they were at very high altitudes and with very strong exposure to radiation and excessive light. From there, the company did not stop until it achieved the famous aviator glasses.
Who invented aviator glasses?
It was in 1936 that Bausch + Lomb created the first Ray-Ban sunglasses for military aviators, which they began to market a year later. The company's opticians and physicists managed to find a specialised tint in 1936, a dark green colour capable of absorbing light in the yellow band of the spectrum, and with a very wide frame that would fit a pair of large lenses that covered the eyes very well (and therefore reached the cheeks), slightly tilted so as not to interrupt their view of the plane's controls or their aerial view.
Although we can find many imitation models and cool new adaptations on the market today, this was really the origin of the Ray-Ban brand, the original creator of the Ray-Ban model. aviator glasses, which were given to US Air Force pilots free of charge for use in the war.
Why are aviator glasses so popular?
The aviator glasses They became popular during World War II thanks to General Douglas MacArthur in 1944, who was captured in an iconic photograph wearing his aviator sunglasses.
Later, in 1947, the company officially developed the well-known sunglasses as a fashion accessory for the public using advertising campaigns (aimed at both men and women) related especially to patriotism and national pride that was booming at that time, although they also greatly promoted the technological advances of the time and their rational advantages (functionality and comfort). They even used the figure of the pilot Amelia Earhart as an image in some of their campaigns to approach the female public with this patriotic dynamic.
Of course, this craze guaranteed huge sales for the brand and also made the glasses a huge hit in society from that moment on, and until the end of time. It was also a glasses model that was marketed under the concept of happiness and family unity despite war times, attracting a lot of public attention with slogans such as “The members of tomorrow need good eyes.”
The aviator glasses They did not have a specific audience, they were for everyone, and that is why they were so popular; they could be used by everyone from young people to adults, and they were used by both men and women, which was also the reason for their great popularity.
Today, the model of aviator glasses It comes and goes seasonally. You've probably noticed how this model always comes back in the waves of fashion. vintage and retro. But the truth is that it is an iconic model of sunglasses that is here to stay. Although its original creators Bausch + Lomb finally sold the Ray-Ban brand to the Italian company Luxótica in 1999, the brand has remained the official creator of this emblematic model of aviator glasses.
Many other brands (designer and also low-cost) have taken this original model and have marketed it for years, re-interpreting the design of the aviator glasses with different colors, frames, lenses, and sizes. So it is not unusual to see many people wearing this model in a unique and different way, but maintaining its originality.
It is so that the aviator glasses They have also become very popular for their appearances in films such as “Cobra" and "Top Gun”, starring Sylvester Stallone and Tom Cruise respectively, as well as its popularity among artists such as Paul McCartney, Brad Pitt, Freddy Mercury, Steve McQueen, David Bowie, Elvis and Diana Ross, among many others.
There is no doubt that the aviator glasses They have become a cultural icon in the history of fashion and sunglasses!
It is incredible and admirable that a model of sunglasses so useful and so genuine at that time, thanks to technological advances and problem solving in times of crisis. And you, what did you think of the great story behind the aviator glasses?
