The famous Oakley brand was founded by a man named Jim Jannard who was renowned for being somewhat of a mad scientist character and was constantly questioning the current limitations of industry standards. Few people took notice of Jannard’s ideas but this did not deter him from starting his own company in 1975. With capital of just $300 and the simple idea of making products that would work better and look better than anything else on the market, he set about building his empire.
Jannard’s first project was developing a new kind of motorcycle handgrip with a unique tread material and a shape that fit and moulded to the rider’s closed hand. With the strong belief that existing products could always be made better and more effective, Jannard was determined to be one of the innovators who took it upon themselves to fulfil this goal. It wasn’t long before top motorcycling professionals took notice of the new design and its Unobtainium material that increased grip with sweat.
This unique discovery inspired Jim to think even further outside of the box and to challenge conventional manufacturing methods. The new handgrip became hugely successful in MX racing for the following17 years and Jannard wanted to see what other products could be developed using the same concept. Jannard then got to work on creating a pair of sunglasses using the same grip idea and material which lead to the famous Oakley O Frame goggle; with a lens curved in the perfect arc of a cylinder. Again, popular with sports professionals including Mark Barnett, Marty Smith, Johnny O‘Mara and Jeff Ward, the goggles were considered a revolutionary product and championed for their clarity and wide peripheral view.
The success of the Oakley O Frame goggles spurred Jannard to return to his workspace and begin a project which focused on completely reinventing sunglasses designed specifically for sports. Again, many people were sceptical and few believed it could be done successfully, especially considering that Jannard was aiming to compete against the eyewear industry’s largest and renowned companies. However, Jim used his innovation and inspiration from his previous inventions to create ‘Eyeshades’; a design that began an evolution of eyewear which was escalated from a generic accessory to vital sports equipment.
Soon after the Eyeshades were manufactured, world-class cycling competitor Greg LeMond, who became a three-time winner of the Tour de France approached Oakley for a pair in addition to other pros including Scott Tinley, Mark Allen and Lance Armstrong. All of these athletes demanded the performance and protection offered by Eyeshades that could not be found in sunglasses made by any other brand.
The Oakley brand progressed from strength to strength. Decades of innovation saw new product technologies in addition to superior aesthetic forms which fuse science and art and have been awarded more than 600 patents worldwide. Today, Jannard’s Oakley brand has become the one that every sports orientated brand aspires to be like, but Jannard’s innovation, forward thinking and the ability to move beyond convention has extended to the entire Oakley team enabling the brand to always remain one step ahead of its competitors. Oakley prides itself on producing only the very best according to professional standards and therefore any pair of Oakley sunglasses, goggles, Oakley watches or Oakley accessories are assured to be of only the most superior quality, combining technical and aesthetic excellence with flawless performance.
The collection of Oakley sunglasses are incredibly varied, boasting the ultimate in technical innovation and all with sharp and sleek aesthetics. Oakley sunglasses are designed to meet the needs of world class athletes who demand perfect performance and protection in their eyewear and therefore Oakley frames are also made for comfort with the use of lightweight materials in addition to a unique Three-Point Fit technology which provides maximum optical performance. The three main elements of this technology include impact absorption to ensure visual safety, optical alignment for precise and accurate visual clarity and geometries to allow for an extended peripheral view.
Oakley has also developed a lens technology named High Definition Optics (HDO) and is designed to achieve maximum vision and effectively enhance performance. The benefits of HDO include shaper and precise vision without distortion, a clear and accurate view as opposed to images being magnified (as you often find with ordinary lenses that incorporate magnification), maximum eye impact protection and 100 % UV filtering. HDO lenses in typical Oakley style are also made using only the finest and highest quality materials ensuring durability and superb function.
Of course, you may be looking for a pair of sunglasses which are perfect for sports or use on-the-go but also are seeking a style that looks chic and fashion forward. Therefore, Oakley sunglasses also include a fashion orientated range which still incorporate many of the performance based technologies but also look chic, stylish and ultra trendy and boasting the unique Oakley aesthetic. There are also a collection of Oakley sunglasses designed specifically for women and many of these styles include high-fashion inspired designs but with the distinctive Oakley dynamic edge.
The range of Oakley sunglasses are incredibly vast, meaning that you are sure to be able to find a pair that are specifically tailored to your needs and wants; right from the frame style and tone through to the lens colours and lens technologies. Always at the forefront of technology, some Oakley sunglasses even incorporate blue-tooth facilities and in-built MP3 players, allowing you to communicate and listen to your favourite tunes whilst on the go!
Oakley is renowned for being the ultimate leader in the eyewear industry with a huge number of professional athletes always opting for Oakley sunglasses to enhance their performance and provide them with the best eye protection possible. The brand is all about offering the absolute best products to the customer and a large proportion of the design budget and process is invested in research and testing to ensure that maximum durability and performance is achieved. Therefore, you can always be assured that whatever pair of Oakley sunglasses you choose, the visual protection, clarity, quality, performance and sleek looks they provide, will always see you the clear winner.
