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Persol is the word that makes fashionistas all over the world going into raptures. Optical accessories produced under that trademark are always extremely stylish and functional at once. And that mix of qualities is a result of more than a hundred years of fruitful work of the Italian team of designers and opticians. But let’s begin from the start. What is Persol?
Fashion connoisseurs know the name Persol firsthand. This house of optics not only sets trends in eyewear accessories but also constantly surprises its customers with innovations in the development of spectacle frames and lenses. Founded in Italy, the Persol brand has incorporated the best qualities of Italian manufacturers. The precise choice of materials, the development of exclusive and eye-catching designs and the constant consideration of ergonomics. All that Italian fashion houses are famous for is embodied in the principles of Persol.
The Italian brand Persol has conquered the whole world with the excellent quality of its products. The brand name translated from Italian means "per sole" - "from the sun". Initially, the brand produced glasses that protect people from extreme professions, such as pilots, auto and motorcycle races, from the sun and wind. In this regard, the products were distinguished by the highest technical characteristics, comfortable use and functionality. Over time, Persol glasses attracted the attention of the most famous fashionistas because they had a stylish appearance, exclusive design.
The age of the brand is quite solid because the history of Persol goes back over 100 years. But despite such a venerable age, the company remains among the leaders of innovations and constantly monitors fashion trends in design, and often creates them itself. Persol has many of its own developments and discoveries, and it is to this brand that we owe the most comfortable and hypoallergenic frames made from cellulose acetate: before Persol specialists began using this material, frames were predominantly metal and often rubbed or irritated the skin.
The company began production of optical products that made it possible to correct minor vision defects effectively. Thanks to the conduct of special ophthalmological research, the introduction of advanced experience in this industry, the brand's optical collections have been improved and today are considered one of the best in the world. And with elegant frames, Persol glasses achieve the maximum medical and aesthetic effect.
The founder of Persol was Giuseppe Ratti, an optically inspired young Italian who grew up in Turin. But an inquisitive mind and passion for photography determined the future path of the creator of one of the sources of the origin of glasses in the world.
By the beginning of the First World War, Giuseppe Ratti was quite a successful photographer. Photography at the dawn of the twentieth century was a complex procedure, requiring special knowledge in a variety of fields, from chemistry to optics. In addition, the young man worked in the family business in an optics store, which means he knew a lot about glasses and medical diagnostics of vision. And, as an expert on the functions of optics, Giuseppe Ratti also knew about the quality of sunglasses of the time. And above all, pilots who needed to ensure good visibility and reliable eye protection from the sun suffered from the shortcomings of optics.
This is how the history of the Persol brand began. Ratti began experimenting using lenses, frames, mounts to create the perfect glasses for military use. He took the smoky shade as a basis, experimented with saturation, and created the first model of glasses, which received the self-explanatory name Protector. Such sunglasses were, above all, comfortable for use while flying. It had small holes for air circulation. The model was attached to an elastic band. They fit snugly to the face due to the rubber edging of the lenses and the fastening tape that covers the entire pilot's head. Another innovation for that time was the use of silica for the production of lenses. The finished lenses for glasses were distinguished by their strength and a high degree of protection against ultraviolet radiation. All these qualities were very important for pilots. It is not surprising that after the presentation of the Protectors to the public, within a few years, Ratti received many orders from the Italian Ministry of Defense. That were military orders that became a basis of brand creation and promotion. And it was in 1917. For the next 20 years, Ratti's glasses for pilots have conquered the whole world and have become part of the uniforms of the armies of different countries.
Around the same time, the automotive industry was actively developing, followed by the racing industry. Before the emergence of Formula 1 was still far away, but motorsport enthusiasts were already competing with each other. And for them, eye protection was equally important. Unsurprisingly, the Protectors from Giuseppe Ratti caught their attention. Juan Manuel Fangio was the first to use these glasses during the race. History is silent about whether his natural talent, skill, or a mixture of both played a decisive role in his career, but Ratti's glasses played an important role in this as well. In particular, wearing goggles to protect his eyes while racing, Fangio won as many as 5 titles in Formula 1.
After an overwhelming success among racers and pilots in the 1920s, the Protector goggles have launched an active advertising campaign for the Persol brand. From that moment, the brand became associated with its first mascot, the wise Chinese. At the same time, there was another breakthrough in the manufacture of medical and sun-protection optics. And the restless Giuseppe Ratti became its author again. He invented a special system for attaching the hinges of the glasses, which was called the Meflecto hinge based on flexible metal plate and cylinders. This connector is flexible, which in turn contributes to an excellent fixation of the frame to the face and relieves the pressure of the temples on the head. In addition, it was at this time that Ratti proposed a new type of lens for sunglasses. The new lenses were made of pure quartz, they had the lowest refractive index and also they had a pleasant tan hue. It was innovative at the time, and the extravagant yet effective lens tone was in demand. Its unique feature is due to a special manufacturing process that determines the shade and guarantees an extremely high level of protection against harmful UV rays.
After the introduction of new ideas, Persol glasses became popular not only among pilots and Formula 1 racers. At the same time, the industry began to develop actively in Turin, and Giuseppe Ratti immediately felt that this industry was within his sphere of interest. As a result, models have appeared that have become in demand among industrial professionals including miners, factory workers, metallurgists, welders. Additionally, Persol began developing eyewear for active lifestyle enthusiasts and athletes. Persol products have become popular among parachutists, climbers, and travelers.
In the post-war period, Persol introduced yet another innovation in the field of medical optics and accessories. These were frames made of cellulose acetate, a material that was lightweight and durable at the same time. Glasses in such a frame did not feel when worn, did not cause irritation or allergies. Since the Persol, this technology has been implemented by many eyewear manufacturers around the world. And in the post-war period, half-rim frames made of cellulose acetate made a boom in Italy and then around the world. It was at this time that the creation of the most popular Persol 649 model fell.
By the way, this model was originally developed for Turin tram drivers. The dusty streets of the Italian city caused a lot of inconvenience to drivers and often dust in the eyes and the sun hitting the face for most of the year caused accidents. With the invention of Persol 649, tram drivers have not only improved their driving behavior and improved road safety on the streets, but also looked incredibly stylish. The fashion that looks like a tram driver from Turin took over Italy, and tourists spread it around the world.
The middle of the century saw the Persol transition from utilitarianism to high-fashion design. After an increased interest in Giuseppe Ratti's products from fashionistas in Italy and around the world, the brand's designers began to focus not only on technological aspects and medical research but also on fashion trends. In parallel, Persol began entering the US market. However, by that time, all NASA astronauts had already trained in Persol goggles because the company began to receive orders for special uniforms from the US Space Research Department since the 1920s.
In the 70s, Persol created collections that were designed for the most extreme conditions. To this end, Persol designers and developers tested new models in the African deserts and in the Siberian tundra.
After the death of Giuseppe Ratti, Persol did not stop its work. Created by a talented and inspired optician, the company has continued to produce optical masterpieces and beyond. In 1995, Persol became part of the Luxottica Group S.p.A. This conglomerate today includes the most popular brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada. In addition, Luxottica produces glasses for many fashion houses in Europe and America, including Versace, Armani, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and his sub-brands, Tiffany, Stella McCartney. In addition to selling the brand, the 90s were marked for Persol by successful collaborations with Italian couturiers under the brands Moschino and Emmanuel Ungaro.
At the same time, out of respect for the heritage of Giuseppe Ratti, the production of Persol glasses is still located in Lauriano.
Despite the fact that the first mascot of the company was a wise Chinese man: an image of an Asian man in round sunglasses, over time, this image has become not very popular in marketing. Tolerance, a change in the vector of social policy played a cruel joke on the brand. Although, the wise Chinese served as an advertisement for the company for almost half a century, until the 70s.
At the same time, the Persol logo was designed in the form of a silver arrow resting on the blades of the swords of Roman legionnaires. This choice, on the one hand, expressed the company's devotion to its Italian roots, and on the other hand, it allowed the logo to be integrated into all Persol products organically and original. Today, the brand's silver arrow is present on all Persol products as part of the temple hinges. It is she who masks the loops. This exclusive mount, inspired by the weapons of ancient warriors, allows you to recognize the thousands of Persols glasses. The symbol still makes every pair of Persol glasses instantly recognizable around the world.
Considering the most iconic Persol glasses, you can't help but stop your eyes on the following ones.
Despite the fact that Persol glasses were originally developed for purely utilitarian purposes and were produced for the defence sector of the economy, their design and comfort did not pass by celebrities. Of course, this was only in the hands of the founder of the company, because what can advertise your products more effectively than a celebrity who appeared under the flashes of cameras in it.
So let's go through those celebrities who became Persol fans.
If we talk about the main achievements of the brand, then there are a lot of them. Let's highlight some of these achievements.
Despite the fact that the Persol collections are still coming out today, the most popular models of the brand have already become real classics. And it is the vintage Persols that are worth buying if you are collecting a collection of unique accessories, looking for your own style, or looking for a truly luxurious pair of glasses.
Here are a couple of reasons why a vintage Persol collection is always a good investment.
But for connoisseurs, the silver arrow on the hinges of your temples will say a lot: you definitely know a lot about style, have your own opinion and respect your comfort.
For all the reasons why Persol glasses and frames have been recognized as the best in the world for more than a decade, our company regularly arranges a hunt for rare and popular models of vintage glasses of this brand. Why vintage, you ask? The answer is simple: despite all the brand's achievements, today absolutely all brands are striving to reduce the cost of production, become available in all corners of the world, and provide utilitarian models to everyone. But what about uniqueness? This criterion regularly fades into the background. Therefore, we decided to highlight exactly the unique accessories for your eyes. And, of course, in this, we cannot do without accessories from Persol.
Our experts carry out real detective work, like the true Sherlock Holmes, in order to get for you the originals of Persol glasses, issued before the beginning of our century. We are constantly evaluating the originals, looking for those who have preserved the legacy of the legendary Giuseppe Ratti, working to popularize this non-standard and very stylish brand. Therefore, in our store, you will find a real exclusive: original Persols of the best models, from the 50s to the 2000s
We invite all connoisseurs of high-quality and beautiful optics to our online store. With us, you will create a unique and distinctive image, select high-quality accessories for your style, and at the same time, you will be sure that each of your purchases is a true exclusive.
