Ray-Ban glasses have been the kings of cool since the company’s first aviation sunglasses were made to help pilots see better (and ban rays from their eyes). The Ray-Ban Aviators, along with the Wayfarers, quickly became pop culture icons during the 50s and are still mainstays for many, even if they aren’t movie stars. The Wayfarers, in particular, transcended sunglasses and became an American icon in their own right, worn by the likes of James Dean, Andy Warhol, and Bob Dylan. Continuing the tradition of cool, Ray-Ban is shaking things up with its Reverse Collection, featuring concave lenses and reversed frames on the Aviator, Wayfarer, Caravan, and Boyfriend silhouettes, along with other features.
The star of the show in this collection (as you’ve probably already guessed) is the new concave lenses, breaking away from the conventional convex shape most lenses have. This isn’t just for the cool factor either; the concave shape should fit more comfortably on the face since it (generally) follows the angle of the cheek. Not only that, but these new lenses feature an anti-glare treatment courtesy of EssilorLuxottica, reducing reflection by (up to) 70%. This “disruptive aesthetic,” as Ray-Ban would call it, has already been seen out and about, most notably at the 2023 Met Gala on Euphoria’s soundtrack musician, Labrinth, rocking the reversed Wayfarers.
This new collection is also accompanied by sustainability efforts – all four bio-nylon lenses are made with 41% bio-based carbon materials, with 67% in the frames. Additionally, the packaging is made from 100% recycled material, along with the included cleaning cloth. These “bio-based” shades are certainly in line with Ray-Ban’s reputation as the cool kid in the sunglasses industry and mark the beginning of a new style.
The Ray-Ban Reverse Collection, including the Aviator, Wayfarer, Caravan, and Boyfriend frames, is live now on Ray-Ban’s website and participating stores – with more purchasing options coming June 15th.
