1930s: Where it all took flight

Born in the skies, built for the brave — the Aviator takes off and the Ray-Ban legacy begins.

The Spark of Innovation

In the mid-1930s, advances in aviation meant pilots were flying higher and farther than ever – but they faced a serious problem: intense sunlight at high altitudes was causing headaches and nausea. In 1929, U.S. Army Air Corps Colonel John A. Macready partnered with Bausch & Lomb (a New York optical firm) to develop special sunglasses for pilots that would reduce the blinding glare. After years of R&D, the company introduced a prototype in 1936 called “Anti-Glare” glasses: they featured green-tinted crystal lenses in lightweight plastic frames, filtering out harsh blue and white light without distorting vision. By 1937, this innovation was refined with a sturdier metal frame and patented under a new name – the Ray-Ban Aviator, so-called because it “banned” incoming sun rays for aviators. These early Aviators used Kalichrome green lenses designed to sharpen detail and cut haze, perfect for clarity in the sky. Bausch & Lomb also added impact-resistant lens technology in 1938 to make them more durable for military use. The result was a functional but sleek teardrop-shaped design that hugged the face, covering eyes from every angle – a now-classic silhouette born purely from utility. Ray-Ban wasted no time expanding on the Aviator’s success. In 1938, B&L released the Ray-Ban Shooter, a special model geared toward hunters and marksmen. The Shooter introduced yellow-tinted lenses (to enhance contrast in hazy conditions) and a distinctive “cigarette holder” circular gap in the center, supposedly so a shooter could hold a cigarette hands-free. Then in 1939 came the Ray-Ban Outdoorsman (originally marketed as “Skeet Glasses”), designed for fishing and hunting enthusiasts. The Outdoorsman added a leather-covered top bar (a “sweat bar”) to catch perspiration and included distinctive temple end covers, setting it apart from standard Aviators. These early product innovations show how, even in its first decade, Ray-Ban was blending technology with user-specific design – catering not just to pilots but to anyone with an outdoor lifestyle.
The Spark of Innovation
From Utility to Style

From Utility to Style

Although Ray-Ban’s aviator shades were created for U.S. Army Air Corps pilots in 1937–38, they didn’t stay in the cockpit for long. The Aviator quickly caught the public’s eye as a symbol of adventure and modernity. By the late 1930s, senior military officers, competitive marksmen, and style-minded civilians were adopting mirrored lenses and teardrop frames, drawn by their precision engineering and the swagger they implied.

Bausch & Lomb’s early marketing leaned into that prestige. A 1938 campaign proclaimed “Champions and Leaders wear Ray-Ban Anti-Glare”, pairing the glasses with aviation champions and record-holding shooters. This was the birth of the “cool factor” — positioning Ray-Ban not merely as protective gear, but as the choice of those at the top of their game.

Even without Hollywood’s help, real-world figures in aviation and sport were elevating the brand. Photographs of air race winners, military demonstration teams, and sportsmen in Ray-Bans appeared in newspapers and magazines, giving civilians a glimpse of a high-performance world they could buy into.

By the close of the decade, Ray-Ban “sun glasses” had shifted from specialist equipment to a coveted accessory — still carrying the grit and precision of the airfield, but increasingly worn on the street as a marker of modern style.

The Original Sell: Function Meets Form

1937: Bausch & Lomb launched Ray-Ban as an “Anti-Glare” aviator goggle for U.S. Army Air Corps pilots. The Ray-Ban trademark was registered and the first Ray-Ban advertisements appeared that year. Early marketing centered on the Aviator sunglasses’ military origin and practical benefits—reducing blinding sun glare for pilots—while introducing a touch of style.

Print ads in aviation magazines and newspapers highlighted the new Ray-Ban Aviator name (adopted instead of the generic “anti-glare” label) and positioned the glasses as cutting-edge gear for heroes of the sky. This creative direction established Ray-Ban’s aspirational tone, associating wearers with daring pilots and adventure.

1938: Ray-Ban expanded its lineup with the Ray-Ban Shooter, a variant tailored to sport shooters and hunters . Marketing for the Shooter emphasized its technical innovations: choice of green or yellow lenses to enhance detail by filtering specific light (useful in hazy conditions) and a distinctive “cigarette holder” circle on the bridge allowing hands-free use. Print advertisements and product catalogs targeted outdoorsmen, touting how the Shooter combined utility (glare reduction) with rugged style. The messaging highlighted the brand’s responsiveness to niche needs (marksmen and outdoor sports) while maintaining the Aviator’s cool factor.

1939: Building on the outdoors theme, Ray-Ban introduced the Outdoorsman (originally called “Skeet Glass”), aimed at fishing and hunting enthusiasts. This model’s marketing stressed its added features like leather-wrapped brow bars and temple tips for comfort and sweat absorption.

Bausch & Lomb’s ads in the late 1930s often showed men in outdoor attire or military uniforms wearing Ray-Bans, reinforcing a premium, adventure-ready image. By the end of the decade, Ray-Ban had established a reputation not only for functional eyewear trusted by pilots and sportsmen, but also as a symbol of rugged American glamour that anyone could don to emulate those heroes.

From the Vault

Spotted in the 30s

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