Who owns Oakley Sunglasses?
Oakley is one of the largest sunglass brands in the world. In this guide, we’ll detail the history from the first Oakleys to their Luxottica purchase and how Oakley’s history shapes the sunglasses you’re wearing. Who owns Oakley Sunglasses? Jim Jannard founded the sunglasses empire Oakley out of his car in 1975. His first product…
Oakley is one of the largest sunglass brands in the world. In this guide, we’ll detail the history from the first Oakleys to their Luxottica purchase and how Oakley’s history shapes the sunglasses you’re wearing.
Who owns Oakley Sunglasses?
Jim Jannard founded the sunglasses empire Oakley out of his car in 1975. His first product was a motorcycle grip that wicked sweat during long rides. It went public in 1995 and sold to Luxottica for $2.1 billion in cash in 2007. The company designs develop and manufactures sports performance equipment and lifestyle pieces including sunglasses, safety glasses, eyeglasses, sports visors, ski/snowboard goggles, watches, apparel, backpacks, shoes, optical frames, and other accessories.
Most items are designed in-house at their head office, but some countries hold exclusive designs relevant to their market. Oakley currently holds more than 600 patents for eyewear, materials, and performance gear. As the first foray into eyewear, Oakley released The Oakley Goggle. With only a few colorways available, it was originally designed for dirt biking and motocross, leveraging the market their grips had built. They soon followed up with the O Frame and Pro Frame.
