Ray-Ban 531861 225995148 2008-07-16T10:58:39Z 221.127.202.234 /* Entertainment */ {{Infobox Company | company_name = Ray-Ban | company_logo = [[Image:Logo ray ban.jpg|250px]] | company_type = Subsidiary of [[Luxottica]] Group S.p.a. | foundation = 1937 | founder = [[Bausch & Lomb]] | location_city = Agordo, Veneto | location_country = Italy | key_people = | products = High End Eyewear and Sunglasses | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = | divisions = | subsid = | company_slogan = Genuine since 1937 | homepage =[http://www.ray-ban.com www.ray-ban.com] | footnotes = }} '''Ray-Ban''' is a [[manufacturer]] of [[sunglasses]], founded in 1937<ref>[http://www.ray-ban.com/Welcome.html Ray-Ban company website]</ref> by [[Bausch & Lomb]]. They were introduced for the [[United States Air Force]]<ref>[http://www.historyofbranding.com/rayban.html History of Ray-Ban]</ref>. In 1999, Bausch & Lomb sold the brand to the Italian [[Luxottica]] Group for a reported 1.2 billion dollars<ref>[http://dellamoda.it/fashion_dictionary/r/rayban.php Fashion Dictionary Ray-Ban]</ref>. ==History== [[Image:RayBanAviator.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ray-Ban Aviator|Aviator Large Metal]] sunglasses<br>(RB3025 004/58)]] [[Image:Newwayfarer.jpg|thumb|New [[Ray-Ban Wayfarer|Wayfarer]] sunglasses<br>(RB2132 901L)]] Ray-Bans were initially created in 1937 after lieutenant John MacCready had returned from a [[balloon]] flying adventure in 1920. He complained that the sun had done permanent damage to his eyes. He contacted Bausch & Lomb asking them to create a type of sunglasses that would not only provide superb protection, but also look elegant. On May 7, 1937, Bausch & Lomb officially took out the patent<ref>[http://dellamoda.it/fashion_dictionary/r/rayban.php Fashion Dictionary Ray-Ban]</ref>. The prototype, known as Anti-Glare, consisted of an extremely light frame weighing 150 grams. They were made of gold-plated metal with two green lenses made of mineral glass to filter out [[infrared]] and [[ultraviolet]] rays. Pilots in the United States Air Force immediately adopted the sunglasses<ref>[http://dellamoda.it/fashion_dictionary/r/rayban.php Fashion Dictionary Ray-Ban]</ref>. The [[Ray-Ban Aviator]] became a well-known style of sunglasses when [[General Douglas MacArthur]] landed on the beach in the [[Philippines]] in [[World War II]], and photographers snapped several pictures of him wearing them.<ref>[http://dellamoda.it/fashion_dictionary/r/rayban.php Fashion Dictionary Ray-Ban]</ref> ==Entertainment== Hundreds of Ray-Ban Sunglasses have made appearances in Hollywood films; the first dates back to the 1961 movie [[Breakfast at Tiffany’s]], starring [[Audrey Hepburn]] as [[Holly Golightly]]<ref>[http://www.ray-ban.com/USA/home.asp Ray-Ban company website]</ref>. Later, the popularity of Ray-Ban sunglasses was confirmed in the Hollywood hit [[Blues Brothers]] starring [[Dan Aykroyd]] and [[John Belushi]] [http://www.ray-ban.com/USA/home.asp]. Later, [[Tom Cruise]] added his own contribution in the 1983 hit [[Risky Business]]<ref>[http://www.ray-ban.com/USA/home.asp Ray-Ban company website]</ref>. In the 1997 box office hit [[Men in Black (film)|Men in Black]], [[Will Smith]] also made Ray-Ban appeal to even more people with a reference to the [[sunglasses]]. Along with the movie, Smith also made Ray Bans more appealing to young people in his rap song [[Men in Black (song)|Men in Black]]. ==Honda F1 Racing Team== In July 2004, Ray-Ban officially became partners with the [[Honda Racing F1 Team]]. For 2006 and years to follow, the distinctive Ray-Ban signature will continue to appear on the cockpit sides of the Honda Racing F1 Team’s RA106 [[race car]] throughout the season, along with a new prominent position on the helmet visors of race drivers [[Jenson Button]] and [[Rubens Barrichello]], and third driver [[Anthony Davidson]] [http://www.f1technical.net/news/1990 Honda Racing News]. Honda Racing F1 Team members wore the Ray-Ban 4075 sunglasses model from its spring and summer 2006 sun collection<ref>[http://www.f1technical.net/news/1990 F1 Technical Ray-Ban extends partnership with Honda]</ref>. ==Sundance Film Festival== Ray-Ban is partners in the annual [[Sundance Film Festival]] for independent filmmakers. Ray-Ban has been partners with the film festival since 2003. Every year at the festival the Ray-Ban visionary award is given to an individual whose active worth in the film industry showcases vision, imagination and originality<ref>[http://www.ray-ban.com/USA/home.asp Ray-Ban company website]</ref>. People who receive the award are dedicated individuals who possess extraordinary passion, creativity, and leadership. Previous award winners include [[Quentin Tarantino]], Matt Dillon, [[Kevin Bacon]], [[Colin Callender]] and [[Mark Ordesky]]<ref>[http://www.ray-ban.com/USA/home.asp Ray-Ban company website]</ref>. ==See also== *[[Ray-Ban Aviator]] *[[Ray-Ban Wayfarer]] *[[Sunglass Hut International|Sunglass Hut]] - also owned by Luxottica and features Ray-Ban ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.ray-ban.com/ Ray-Ban] global site * [http://www.historyofbranding.com/rayban.html History of Branding] * [http://dellamoda.it/fashion_dictionary/r/rayban.php History of Fashion] * [http://www.f1technical.net/news/1990 Honda Racing News] [[Category:Eyewear brands]] [[Category:Companies of Italy]] [[Category:Companies established in 1937]] [[de:Ray-Ban]] [[es:Ray-Ban]] [[fr:Ray-Ban]] [[it:Ray-Ban]] [[ja:レイバン]] [[sv:Ray-Ban]]