Who Founded Ray-Ban?

One of the world’s best-known eyewear brands, Ray-Ban, was founded in 1937. The birth of the brand is based on a need that emerged with the development of American military aviation. To eliminate the severe headaches and vision limitations experienced by American Air Force pilots due to sunlight during flight, optical experts were consulted, thus laying the foundations of the legendary brand.

Foundation and Misconceptions

Contrary to popular belief, Ray-Ban was not founded by a single individual, but by the New York-based medical optics giant Bausch & Lomb. The name “Lester Belisario,” which appears in some sources as the founder, is a historical misinformation. Bausch & Lomb, the true creator of the brand, introduced the Ray-Ban brand to the world by registering the first model specially designed for aviators on May 7, 1937.

The Birth of Iconic Models

Two fundamental designs that enabled Ray-Ban to become a global brand have shaped the history of eyewear:

• Aviator (1937): Produced for pilots and featuring “anti-glare” green lenses, this model is the brand’s first and most popular design.
• Wayfarer (1952): Emerging during the golden age of Hollywood, this model popularized the use of plastic frames, transforming eyewear from a mere accessory into a fashion icon.

Ownership and the Italy Adventure

Headquartered in Rochester, New York since its inception, Ray-Ban remained an American brand for many years. However, in 1999, the Italian eyewear giant Luxottica Group acquired the brand and incorporated it into its structure. With this acquisition, the brand’s management headquarters moved to Milan, Italy.

Current Status

Today, Ray-Ban operates under the umbrella of EssilorLuxottica, the world’s largest optical organization formed by the merger of Luxottica and the French company Essilor. The brand, which currently employs tens of thousands of people worldwide, maintains its global leadership not only in sunglasses but also in prescription glasses produced with the most advanced technologies.