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
Parent	Luxottica Group

Ray-Ban is a famous brand that makes stylish sunglasses and eyeglasses. It was started in 1936 by a company called Bausch & Lomb. Ray-Ban is super well-known for its cool Wayfarer and Aviator sunglasses. In 1999, Bausch & Lomb sold Ray-Ban to an Italian company called Luxottica Group for a lot of money.

The Story of Ray-Ban Sunglasses
- How Ray-Ban Started
- Improving the Design
Popular Ray-Ban Styles
Stopping Fake Ray-Bans
- The Problem with Fakes
- How Ray-Ban Fights Fakes
Gallery
Images for kids
See also

The Story of Ray-Ban Sunglasses

How Ray-Ban Started

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

Pilots also had a problem with their goggles fogging up high in the sky. In 1936, they made a first pair of glasses called "Anti-Glare." These glasses had plastic frames and green lenses. They could block out bright light without making it hard to see. The name "Ray-Ban" came from how these glasses could "ban" harmful light rays. This included UV rays and infra-red rays.

Improving the Design

In 1938, they added lenses that could handle impacts better. The next year, the sunglasses got a new metal frame. They were then patented as the Ray-Ban Aviator. The BBC said these glasses used "Kalichrome lenses." These lenses were special. They made details sharper and reduced haze. They did this by filtering out blue light. This made them perfect for flying in misty weather.

In 2025, a famous artist named ASAP Rocky became the first-ever creative director for Ray-Ban. This means he helps decide the brand's style.

Popular Ray-Ban Styles

Classic Sunglasses

Ray-Ban has many popular sunglasses styles. The most famous are the Wayfarer, Erika], and Aviator models. In the 1950s, Ray-Ban also made the Echelon, which had a more square shape.

In 1965, the Olympian I and II sunglasses came out. They became very popular after actor Peter Fonda wore them in the 1969 movie Easy Rider. Ray-Ban has also made special edition glasses. One example is The General from 1987. These looked like the original aviators worn by General Douglas MacArthur during Second World War.

The Clubmaster and More

In the 1980s, the Ray-Ban Clubmaster was added. The Clubmaster has a unique browline frame. It became the third best-selling sunglasses style of the 1980s. Only the Wayfarer and Aviator sold more.

Glasses for Kids

In 2007, Luxottica Group launched Ray-Ban Youth. This was a collection of prescription glasses for kids aged eight to twelve. These glasses looked like popular adult Ray-Ban styles. They were made from strong, allergy-friendly titanium. They also had sturdy hinges and came in many colors.

New Technologies

In 2009, Luxottica released the Ray-Ban Tech collection. This included the Carbon Fibre line. These sunglasses were tested to be very strong and light. They had special polarized lenses made of polycarbonate or crystal.

Ray-Ban also lets you design your own glasses on their website. You can pick different frames, lenses, and even add engravings.

Smart Glasses

In 2021, Ray-Ban created smart glasses with Facebook Reality Labs. They called them Ray-Ban Stories. These glasses have a camera built-in and Bluetooth earphones. They let you take photos and videos or listen to music. Like other smart devices with cameras, people have talked about privacy when using them.

Stopping Fake Ray-Bans

The Problem with Fakes

Ray-Ban is a luxury brand, so fake versions are often made. You might see ads for Ray-Bans at very low prices. These ads often lead to websites selling fake products. Studies show that many ads for cheap luxury items online link to these fake sites.

Fake Ray-Bans are often found when police stop illegal goods. For example, in 2016, police in Thailand found hundreds of thousands of fake sunglasses. These included fake Ray-Bans. The people selling them put fake tags on them to trick buyers.

How Ray-Ban Fights Fakes

Luxottica, the company that owns Ray-Ban, works hard to stop fake products. They changed their website in India to sell products directly. They also take legal action against online stores that sell fake Ray-Bans.

In 2016, Luxottica started a "Minimum Advertised Price (MAP)" rule for stores that sell their products. This rule doesn't say a specific lowest price. But it stops stores from advertising Ray-Ban products at huge discounts. This helps make sure the products keep their value.