Nearly all of us now wear sunglasses on a regular basis. Who invented them? Their use dates to prehistoric times, where the very first evidence of something resembling sunglasses was found in ancient artifacts – masks made of bone with narrow slits carved into them. The Inuit wore these masks to limit the amount of sunlight entering their eyes and to provide them with sharper vision while hunting.
The Romans were the next known society to use sunglasses. Nero, the Roman Emperor wore transparent coloured gemstones to shield his eyes from the glare while watching dueling gladiators. A similar device was worn by Chinese magistrates during the 12th century, but for a different reason – it was to hide their expressions while in court!
Tinted lenses fixed to appliances resembling frames were first seen at the start of the 18th century. During this time metal and wire was used to hold lenses in place as well as secure them with temples that fit behind the ear. The first medical use of sunglasses didn’t occur until the 20th century, when specific yellow and brown tints were used to treat light sensitivity to those afflicted with syphilis.
The 1920’s ushered in the merging of fashion and function when celebrities in the movie industry started wearing sunglasses in-between outdoor photoshoots to protect their eyes. This created an increased interest in wearing sunglasses as a fashion accessory, as ordinary citizens began seeing more and more celebrities wearing them in magazines.
The increasing use of cars and airplanes in the US resulted in the use of protective goggles, and the US Army started to mandate the use of the Aviator style sunglass for their airborne troops in 1941 – a style that is still popular today!
The fashion aspect of sunglasses continued to evolve shortly after the end of World War 2. Hair combs, which were a fashion accessory made of a variety of materials and original designs, were gradually used less and less as hairstyles changed. The artisans and craftspeople who created the combs consequently re-adapted their business model, moving the elaborate designs and modern colour patterns towards sunglass frames.
Branded eyewear soon rose to the forefront of the fashion industry, as big names recognized the value of increasing their product offerings by selling the use of their image to sunglass retailers. That was the start of the multi-billion dollar (and growing) market that represents sunglass sales today.
Reference: https://www.optiknow.ca/2023/06/08/a-shady-past-the-history-of-sunglasses/
