Oakley

 

Oakley History

In the 1970s, a mad scientist called Jim Jannard started looking for ways to improve motocross gear. His experiments with materials and shapes had almost immediate results, but no one believed in his ideas. So in 1975, Jim went into business for himself. He started the Oakley brand-named after his dog-with $300 in seed money and the simple idea of making products that worked and looked better than anything else available at the time. In the lab in his garage, Jim developed a motorbike handle with a unique pattern and shape that fit the rider's hand perfectly. Professional riders immediately liked the design and the material, which provided even more grip when in contact with sweat. "Everything in the world can and will be improved," was Jim's firm belief. "The question is when and by whom. Jim himself was at least trying hard to break conventional thinking patterns. Although his own business was struggling, his next innovation was already underway; the Oakley O Frame goggle, the first goggle with a perfectly cylindrical lens, would remain the standard in motocross for the next 17 years. Jim's next step was to reinvent sunglasses and make them suitable for top-level sports. Few believed this was possible, let alone the established brands. Jim created the Oakley Eyeshades, a pair of sunglasses that started an eyewear evolution; sunglasses would slowly go from being an accessory to an essential piece of equipment for elite athletes. In the years that followed, Oakley never stopped improving its products and searching for unconventional solutions. Decades of innovation resulted in countless new technologies and products, often balancing on the boundaries of art and science. The fact that Oakley has more than 600 patents worldwide speaks for itself. Today, Jim Jannard's brand continues to make products that are better than the competition, offering solutions for people who don't want to compromise on performance.

Oakley Frogskin

Although Oakley made its name with performance-oriented single-lens sunglasses such as the Eyeshades and Razorblades, Oakley's first dual-lens sunglasses, the Frogskins, were an equally big breakthrough. The sunglasses were introduced in the early 80s, when Reagan was in the White House, Terminator movie theatre records were being broken and Run DMC was scoring hit after hit. While the Eyeshades and Razorblade were mainly loved by cyclists and athletes, the Frogskins hit a completely different target group. Surfers, pop stars and other cool people took to the glasses, and they became a pop culture icon. Even today, the popularity of Frogskins remains undiminished. This is due not only to its cool retro style, but also to its great vision and unrivalled durability.