Sporty, glasses and sunglasses | Vintage Sunglasses

Sporty sunglasses - from skiing glasses of the seventies to the special sports sunglasses of the 90s

In our sporty eyewear category, there are predominantly vintage sunglasses, because only rarely have frames been produced specifically for a particular sport.

We also include vintage sunglasses in sporty sunglasses, which are very sporty due to their design.

Curved spectacle lenses for cyclists

For example, the so-called “wrap” glasses were originally developed for cycling. Wrap sunglasses have a very strong curvature and therefore also cover the field of vision next to the eye. This is an important function for cyclists, as the field of vision is not obscured by a frame when glancing quickly over the shoulder, and the eye remains completely protected from the sun’s rays.

Over the decades, some designers have been inspired by it and have created fashionable sunglasses that were by no means made for sports, but were rather stylish designer sunglasses.
However, we must say that the bulk of our vintage sporty sunglasses were actually produced as sports glasses.

Special glasses for every outdoor activity

The best examples are the old Carrera sunglasses, the history of which we have already described in detail in our “Carrera” category.

These were developed explicitly in the 50s by OPTYL, to be worn during certain sports activities.

There were ski sunglasses, hiking sunglasses, glacier sunglasses, sailing sunglasses, racing sunglasses and many more.
All differed in terms of their sunglasses, materials and wearing characteristics according to the requirements of the respective sport.

Sports sunglasses became everyday sunglasses.

As Optyl always refined the design of the sunglasses in addition to their functionality, a demand developed outside of sports events.

In addition, successful athletes contributed to the fact that the sunglasses were also worn by their fans outside sports facilities. Particularly successful athletes perfected this sports marketing symbiosis and collaborated deliberately with manufacturers of sports sunglasses, and had glasses produced according to their individual needs.

In return, these sports sunglasses were named after the athletes, which often turned old sports sunglasses into vintage sunglasses.

Extreme mountaineer Walter Cecchinel collaborated with CEBE, as did Paris–Dakar Rally drivers Claude Brasseur and Thierry Sabine. Ski hero Willy Bogner introduced his own sports glasses collection onto the market, as did mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner.

These vintage sports sunglasses are legendary today.

Athletes created their own eyewear brands.

Other athletes in the 80s and 90s also recognised the potential of their own sports eyewear collection, even if no sunglasses were necessary for the sport in question.

However, the glasses collection of Steffi Graf, Björn Borg and Boris Becker were anything but successful. Perhaps the designs were too simple or the qualities too meagre. These sports glasses collections probably simply lacked the authenticity to be successful.

This is a good example of how old sports sunglasses are not automatically vintage sunglasses. Likewise, not every old designer wrap eyewear is the same as old vintage sports sunglasses.

Have a browse through our “sporty” glasses category and you will see that there is something special behind the sporty glasses in our range of products.