The Californian brand Oakley was founded in 1975 by Jim Jannard. He started his business like many others in a garage, where he manufactured motorcycle handlebar grips, investing only 300 dollars. The first products were successful for one simple reason. Jannard developed a material called Unobtainium, which prevented riders' sweaty hands from slipping off the handlebars and also had an ergonomic shape. The legendary grips were called Oakley Grips.
And why Oakley? The founder didn't have to look far for inspiration; his English Setter had the quite inspiring name Oakley Anne. After a very successful era of handlebar grips, the growing company began to focus on sunglasses, ski goggles, and motorcycle goggles. The brand experienced another boom in 1984, when they developed top-quality optical technology called High Definition Optics.
Two years later, Oakley glasses became famous in the sports field, where they maintain a leading position to this day. That was when Greg LeMond won the famous Tour de France, and he was wearing glasses from this brand. Together with gelled hair and wallet chains, these glasses became a symbol and a nineties hit.
To date, the company has obtained more than 600 patents, becoming an international player in the market. It focuses on the development of functional backpacks, sunglasses, prescription glasses, clothing, footwear, and many other accessories. Innovation inspired by art and science is appreciated by professional athletes, as well as those who expect high quality from a product. Oakley is one of the few companies that holds a US Standard Issue license and provides eyewear to the US military.
In addition to technical innovations, it also invests money in countless non-profit organizations. It is committed to helping disabled athletes and strives for their reintegration into sports. Just as in the beginning, it continues to support athletes today. In 2012, the company became a sponsor of the US Olympic team.
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