Cockpit to Catwalk
The Global Style Story of Aviator Sunglasses
The term Aviator is so closely linked to a specific shape of sunglasses that Luxottica, the world’s largest eyewear manufacturer, once attempted to trademark the name. Luckily, without success. Because "Aviator" stands on its own as a distinct category in the world of eyewear. Today, there are countless variations of Aviator sunglasses – but the term Aviator has become universally recognized, replacing older names like "pilot glasses".
Aviators – Built to perform in a fighter jet
The now-iconic teardrop shape of the Aviator was originally developed for military pilots. In 1937, the U.S. Air Force commissioned a medical optics company called Bausch & Lomb to develop a sunglass model that could provide full protection at high altitudes. Since UV radiation increases by roughly 10% for every 1,000 meters, the risk of eye and skin damage is significantly higher in the upper atmosphere.
The new sunglasses had to
- fully shield the pilot’s field of vision
- allow clear visibility of cockpit instruments
- fit comfortably under a helmet
- and be exceptionally durable.
Thanks to strong military funding, Bausch & Lomb had the resources to research the ideal lens and frame construction intensively.
Every detail was carefully engineered and field-tested by pilots. Plastic nose pads ensured comfort. A distinctive top bar (also known as a "sweat bar") was added, and flexible cable temples ensured a perfect fit – even during rapid movement.
And from this technical innovation, a brand was born – almost by accident: Ray-Ban, short for "ray banisher".
Even today, if you asked 100 people worldwide what comes to mind when they hear "Aviator sunglasses", 99 (or maybe all 100) would say: Ray-Ban.
You can occasionally find rare Bausch & Lomb Ray-Ban Aviators in our shop: Explore the Ray-Ban Classics here – unmistakably original, with the legendary B&L engraving.
How does a military product become a fashion icon?
Aviator sunglasses owe their success not only to smart engineering – but to clever marketing, particularly by Bausch & Lomb and their Ray-Ban brand.
From military equipment to Aviator Style
Another player in the early days of military sunglasses was the American Optical Company (AO Eyewear).
As early as 1935, AO was under contract with the U.S. military, working alongside Bausch & Lomb on pilot eyewear, sunglasses, and even weapon sights. AO also developed glasses for the Navy and NASA. Despite being worn by John F. Kennedy and the Apollo 11 crew, the AO brand remained relatively unknown outside the U.S.
Ray-Ban, on the other hand, went global – largely thanks to its cool image, driven by smart product placement.
Famous examples of Ray-Ban product placement
The 1986 film Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise, was financed entirely by the US military to recruit new recruits for the Air Force. The outfit also includes Tom Cruise's Ray-Ban sunglasses as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Not only in the F-14 Tomcat jet, but in all the cool scenes, such as on the Kawasaki Ninja, the film hero wears the now legendary classic sunglasses.
In the same year, Sylvester Stallone appeared in the action film Cobra wearing black Ray-Ban Outdoorsman II aviator sunglasses. Even the movie poster shows the Hollywood star wearing the aviator sunglasses.
Twelve years later, Ray-Ban scored another coup: in the film “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (1998), Johnny Depp wore Ray-Ban Shooter Aviator sunglasses. Probably everyone is familiar with the image of Johnny Depp wearing yellow sunglasses and smoking a joint while sitting in a convertible.
Suddenly, the heroic Aviator look was no longer just military – it became quirky, accessible, and loved by everyone.
High-end aviator sunglasses Ray Ban Outdoorsman
was also produced in limited editions with leather appliqués or gold-plated frames.
Other brands refine the Aviator style
Inspired by the massive success of the Aviator design, other eyewear brands began to integrate the teardrop shape into their collections.
In the 1970s and 1980s, brands like Christian Dior, Alpina, Carrera, Cazal, and Porsche adapted the classic Aviator to everyday fashion. After all, not everyone flies fighter jets to work.
- Christian Dior replaced the metal frame with ultra-light Optyl, significantly improving comfort. Heavy mineral glass lenses were swapped for plastic, reducing the total weight.
- Porsche developed a mechanism for changing the lenses in its Aviator models. With a single click, sunglasses lenses in different tints can be inserted to suit the intensity of the light.
- Cazal added bold colors and creative patterns to the Aviator style.
- Carrera created sport-ready versions of Aviator sunglasses.
Countless other brands followed suit — tweaking frame sizes, experimenting with materials, and adding unique features. The result: today, there’s an Aviator for every taste, every face, and every lifestyle.
Originally made for men, the Aviator design is now worn by women and kids alike. Whether elegant, sporty, or classic — the Aviator fits everyone. Even children look effortlessly cool in pilot-style sunglasses.
It’s no surprise that Italian eyewear giant Luxottica tried to trademark the word Aviator. After all, one in four glasses produced worldwide now comes from Luxottica. While they failed to secure the term itself, they did acquire the most famous version of all: Ray-Ban. In 1999, Luxottica purchased the Ray-Ban brand from Bausch & Lomb — and has been producing the “mother of all Aviator sunglasses” ever since.
And rightly so. The Aviator’s teardrop shape is now part of nearly every eyewear collection. No matter your face shape – the Aviator is universally flattering, and still stands for one thing above all: adventure, freedom, and timeless style.
