Glovebox: Gripping Glasses
October 1, 2007
In 1975, Oakley founder Jim Jannard began selling specialized
flexible handgrips for motocross motorcycles. Those grips, made from a material
Jannard called "Unobtainium"—which increases its hold with
perspiration—eventually paved the way for other innovative products, such as the
sporty sunglasses now favored by athletes. Wrapped in Unobtainium, the stems of
the Nanowire sunglasses ($300) are made of ultra-lightweight titanium alloy—a
memory metal that retains its shape and pliability. The lenses, infused with a
polarizing filter, eliminate distortion and haze to increase clarity—making it
the perfect accoutrement for motocross racing, or other high-speed
sports.
Oakley
www.oakley.com
Persol—which derives from per il sole, Italian for "for the sun"—has built
its reputation specializing in protective eyewear. Originally catering to pilots
and racecar drivers, the brand is now just as likely to appeal to movie stars or
fictional British secret agents. Persol’s new 2279S sunglasses ($220) combine
modern polarized crystal lenses with classic functional design—such as Meflecto,
the flexible stem system developed in the late 1930s to fit any face.
Persol
www.persol.com
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