Like many start-up eyewear companies that Blickers has been writing about recently, Oakley began in a garage with an initial investment of only $300. It was started by a man named Jim Jannard in 1975, and the name Oakley came from his dog, an English Setter.
Initially specialising in sports gear such as gloves and chin guards, the brand then went on to make goggles for biking, and ski goggles (in 1983). The first Oakley sunglasses were called Factory Pilot Eyeshades. These were sport-oriented, and looked liked goggles or visors. These were very popular because of their very lightweight frames and good optical performance.
These were followed by the Oakley Frogskins in 1985; a casual sunglasses style that was extremely popular during the 80s pop culture. Today, with the huge trend for mirrored lenses and colourful frames, Oakley Frogskins are once again thrust into the limelight! They alone truly embody the sunglasses style of Summer 2013, and are now available in many colours...
...and of course celebrities have been wearing Frogskins recently too...
Zac Efron
Jessica Alba
Taylor Lautner
Over the past few years, the Oakley brand has grown hugely. In 2006 Oakley bought the Oliver Peoples group, and in 2007 Oakley was bought by Italian eyewear giants Luxottica, for 2.1 billion US Dollars.
What is remarkable about Oakley sunglasses is that they have remained committed to producing models that are developed with extensive athlete input and testing in the field. Therefore not only are Oakley sunglasses fashionable and aesthetically beautiful, they also use quality materials and technology that is always top of the range. As their slogan says, their eyewear is 'Physics elevated to an art form'.
A couple of very sporty Oakly sunglasses models:
The huge diversity of Oakley sunglasses, and their appeal to both athletes and people looking for good looking sunglasses can be seen by the far reach of their ad campaigns. I will therefore leave you with a few images of their posters, to show you how truly diverse this incredible brand has become.
