Oliver Peoples began in 1986 when opticians Dennis and Larry Leight purchased a collection of vintage American-made eyeglasses. The collections came complete with authentic, unworn vintage frames with the original packing and were all in first class condition, produced by iconic eyeglasses companies including Bausch & Lamb and American Optical. The collections were incredibly popular, allowing the brothers to make a significant profit and inspired them to design their own collection of stylish and desirable classic eyewear.

In 1987, the Oliver People sunglasses brand was born. The debut at Vision Expo East in New York allowed consumers to see that the vintage inspired styles of Oliver Peoples were a distinctive shift away from the futuristic and geometric shapes that were prominent at that time.

Clever and innovative marketing combined with the highly fashion forward and stylish sunglasses themselves escalated the Oliver Peoples brand to the top of the fashion ranks and even influenced the direction of eyewear fashion. The brand was featured in high profile fashion glossies and over the following years, Oliver Peoples opened a number of stores all around the world which in turn, dramatically increased the brand profile.

What is particularly interesting about Oliver Peoples is its marketing strategies that can almost be described as anti-marketing. The brand refuses to place logos or the brand identity on any of its sunglass designs. Instead, distinctive aesthetic detail can be found in the form of hinge plaques, textured and patterned arms, unusually sculpted frames and vivid and vibrant colour combinations and textures. In addition to refraining from using exterior branding or logos, Oliver Peoples doesn’t give out its sunglasses to celebrities; a conventional marketing strategy that brands often use to rapidly create a buzz and increase publicity for their products. Despite and because of this, Oliver Peoples sunglasses are adored and worn by many celebrities including Angelina Jolie, who has stated that the Oliver Peoples brand is her number one sunglass style choice. It is that sense of the brand being truly unique and almost unnamable at a glance that makes it so sought after and exclusive.

Though Oliver Peoples refrains from giving out their sunglasses to celebrities, the brand has become renowned for its elaborate and creative advertising campaigns which feature some of the most iconic and high profile celebrities in the industry. Often these campaigns include unusual celebrity combinations such as the recent 2010 Oliver Peoples campaign featuring Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Wood and Shirley Manson, the lead singer of Garbage. These two stars wouldn’t normally be a likely match, but perfectly convey the theme and attitude of the Oliver Peoples latest collection - diverse and dynamic. In 1994, Oliver Peoples teamed up with Paul Smith to design Paul Smith Spectacles and Zooey Deschanel is a further star who has featured in the advertising campaigns and also has a pair of Oliver Peoples sunglasses named after her; the style of which creatively represent her personal style and character. Prada, Miu Miu and Vera Wang are also all partners of Oliver Peoples. The brand is one that takes inspiration from many varied cultures, styles and people and designs its sunglasses with any and every individual in mind.

Oliver Peoples sunglasses despite their distinctive nod towards vintage style are constantly evolving in regards to technology and innovation and therefore offer a variety of lens options that provide maximum visual quality and protection. Polarised and Photochromic lenses with advanced VFX technology are available in many styles and all Oliver Peoples sunglasses include an Oleophobic lens coating for repelling oil, fingerprints and dust.

Including an array of styles ranging from sleek aviators, to dramatically oversized designs and retro spectacle style sunglasses to name only a few, every pair of Oliver Peoples sunglasses is distinctive, boasting the ultimate in fine craftsmanship and fusing unusual combinations of colours, textures and aesthetic twists. Due to the lack of logos, the brand is designed with each and every individual in mind; allowing you to express you own style and personality through a pair of sunglasses that could easily also be worn by an A List celebrity. Unlike many sought-after and high profile designer brands, Oliver Peoples sunglasses are accessible from a price perspective and really offer something beautifully desirable, innovative and special in today’s fashion industry.