Ray Ban are one of the most famous producers of sunglasses in the world, with a long history connected with eye wear design and the manufacture of sunglasses. Founded in 1937 by Bausch & Lomb, the Ray Ban label is one of the longest running companies selling sunglasses in the entire world.
While Ray Ban have been involved with the design and production of a large range of sunglasses and accessories, there are a couple of particular designs that have really caught the attention of the world. Perhaps the most famous of all Ray Ban designs is the Ray Ban Wayfarer, a style of sunglasses that have been made by Ray Ban since 1956. The enduring popularity of this design goes to show the timeless nature of the shape of Wayfarer glasses. This ongoing popularity has been helped with a number of associations with celebrities and public figures, and some significant exposure on movies and TV shows.
The original design of the Ray Ban Wayfarer back in 1956 was revolutionary, due to the fact it was such a break from the majority of sunglasses produced at the time. Wayfarers had huge popularity all throughout the 1950s and 1960s, although their popularity did fade for a period during the 1970s. This was all turned on its head in the 1980s however, which is the period many people still associate with this classes design of sunglasses. A lucrative product placement deal in 1982 made Wayfarers hugely popular in the United States and many other countries around the world. In many studies and reports, Ray Ban Wayfarers are credited as being the best selling design of sunglasses in history, although there is some controversy about this as Ray Ban Aviators have also been credited with this title.
Much of the popularity of Ray Ban Wayfarers since the 1980s is due to their connection with movies and celebrity figures. In 1982, Ray Ban signed a deal with Unique Product Placement of Burbank, California, to place Ray Ban Wayfarers in a number of movies and television shows. Some of the more popular of these movies and TV shows included Risky Business, Moonlighting, Miami Vice, and the Blues Brothers. Wayfarers have now been redesigned for the new century, with an updated version of the frame that has helped them to make a come back around the world.