The reason sunglasses must be the best is because our eyes need protection from the sun and dark glasses may looking out easier they may not be good for us to wear. The darkened glass must reflect the suns potentially damaging rays to offer us some protection while wearing them and not all dark glasses do this, especially the cheaper ones.
While we would like to think those fabulous sunglasses are a modern invention the concept has been has been us since the 12th century. It is reported that Chinese judges utilized smoky quartz panes, not as eye protection but to hide their expressions during witness questioning and court proceedings. Nero, a Roman emperor, is also reported to utilize gems when viewing fighting gladiators.
The first pair of recognized sunglasses were designed by James Ayscough in 1752. Believing in the unhealthy rays of the sun he utilized tints of green and blue for eye comfort and protection. However, the concept did not catch the public’s attention since they were associated with individuals with weak eyes and feeble dispositions. With the advent of silent movies and the necessary bright studio lighting, stars began to wear sunglasses more for eye protection prior to filming than to conceal their identities. In 1929 Sam Foster became the officially known inventor of what is known as sunglasses today. Utilizing the polarizing filter, created by Edwin H. Land, Sam Foster offered to the public the initial pair of sunglasses in an Atlantic City Woolworth.
Gaining popularity in 1965 with the famous “Who’s behind those Foster Grants?” campaign film stars such as Raquel Welch and Peter Sellers, to mention a few, were utilized in their ads. Sam Foster was able to offer star-like quality to the average individual with their moderately prices glasses and it soon became the rage. Today we enjoy a wide variety of styles to choose from, from sleek to sassy and anything in between. So, for all sunglasses wearers everywhere, thank you Sam Foster.
