Ray-Ban Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Ray-Ban

Headquarters in Milan, Italy
Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Eyewear
Founded	1936; 89 years ago (1936) in Rochester, New York, United States
Headquarters	Milan , Italy
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Sunglasses Eyeglasses
Owner	Luxottica Group

Ray-Ban is a famous brand that makes high-quality sunglasses and eyeglasses. It was started in 1936 by a company called Bausch & Lomb. Ray-Ban is most known for its cool Wayfarer and Aviator styles of sunglasses. In 1999, an Italian company called Luxottica Group bought Ray-Ban.

The Story of Ray-Ban Sunglasses
- How Ray-Ban Started
- Famous Styles and New Ideas
  - Glasses for Young People
  - Smart Glasses: Ray-Ban Stories
Spotting Fake Ray-Bans
Gallery
See also

The Story of Ray-Ban Sunglasses

How Ray-Ban Started

The idea for Ray-Ban sunglasses began in 1929. A pilot named Colonel John A. Macready from the US Army Air Corps worked with Bausch & Lomb. This company, based in New York, made medical equipment. Colonel Macready wanted special sunglasses for pilots. These glasses needed to stop the bright glare from the sky, which made it hard for pilots to see.

Pilots often had problems with their goggles fogging up high in the sky. So, in 1936, the first special glasses were made. They were called "Anti-Glare" and had plastic frames with green lenses. These lenses could block bright light without making it hard to see. The name "Ray-Ban" comes from how these glasses could "ban" or block harmful light rays, like ultraviolet light.

In 1938, stronger lenses that could resist impacts were added. The next year, the sunglasses were updated with metal frames. They were then officially named the Ray-Ban Aviator. These glasses used special "Kalichrome lenses" that made details clearer and reduced haze. This made them perfect for flying in misty weather.

Famous Styles and New Ideas

Ray-Ban has many popular sunglasses styles. Some of the most famous are the Wayfarer, Erika, and Aviator models. In the 1950s, Ray-Ban introduced the Echelon, also known as Caravan, which had a squarer shape. Later, in 1965, the Olympian I and II styles came out. These became very popular after actor Peter Fonda wore them in the 1969 movie Easy Rider.

Ray-Ban has also made special editions. For example, "The General" in 1987 looked a lot like the original Aviator glasses worn by General Douglas MacArthur during World War II. In the 1980s, the Ray-Ban Clubmaster was added. This style has a "browline frame," meaning the top part of the frame is thicker, like your eyebrows. The Clubmaster became one of the best-selling sunglasses styles of the 1980s.

Glasses for Young People

In 2007, Luxottica Group, the company that owns Ray-Ban, started a new collection called Ray-Ban Youth. These were prescription glasses made for kids aged eight to twelve. They looked like popular adult Ray-Ban styles but were made with strong, flexible titanium frames. They came in both simple and bright colors.

Smart Glasses: Ray-Ban Stories

In 2021, Ray-Ban launched a type of smart glasses called Ray-Ban Stories. These glasses were made with Facebook Reality Labs. They have a small camera built-in and Bluetooth earphones. This lets you take photos, record videos, and listen to music or calls right from your glasses. Like other wearable tech with cameras, Ray-Ban Stories have made people think about privacy.

Spotting Fake Ray-Bans

Ray-Ban is a well-known brand, so sadly, some people try to make fake versions. These fake products are called "counterfeits." You might see ads for Ray-Bans at prices that seem too good to be true. Often, these ads lead to websites selling fake products. Studies have shown that many ads for cheap luxury items online can link to these fake sites.

Companies like Luxottica, which owns Ray-Ban, work hard to stop these fake products. They have changed their websites to make it easier for people to buy real products directly. They also take legal steps against online stores that sell fake Ray-Ban items.

To help fight fakes, Luxottica started a rule called "Minimum Advertised Price (MAP)" in 2016. This rule means that stores selling Ray-Ban products cannot advertise them at extremely low prices. This helps make sure that the products keep their value and that customers are less likely to be tricked by fake deals.