Aviator Sunglasses brands

Sunglasses provide a mix of fashion and utility, capable of blocking the sun's harmful UV rays while making an aesthetic statement. Read on for the top 10 brands in sunglasses available in the market today.

Ray Ban

This iconic brand has been manufacturing sunglasses for more than 80 years. Its aviator sunglasses became a look famous around the world due to their enthusiastic adoption by the first generation of modern fighter pilots in World War II. Its modern offerings continue to top "best of" lists throughout the fashion industry.

2

Maui Jim

Founded in 1980, this Hawaiian company retained its island credibility even after moving to Illinois in 1988. Maui Jim's modern product line puts the focus on light-weight performance and athletic styles that are easy to wear while retaining high fashion.

Emporio Armani

This titan of the fashion industry has been a big player in the sunglasses market for decades, and its AX Exchange line of square-framed black sunglasses became an iconic look during the Miami Vice era in the '80s. Its current line favors aviator and tortoise shell designs, but designs from all eras are readily available on eBay.

4

Persol

This Italian company has been making sunglasses since 1917. Its original focus was on pilots and sports drivers, so its line of aviator sunglasses is as iconic for World War-era Italian pilots as Ray Ban's aviators were in the United States. Persol's current line focuses on performance and durability, and uses a high-tech "plastic" derived from cotton byproducts.

Versace

A top name in high fashion, Versace's sunglasses garnered a widespread following during the economic boom of the 1990s. Many of its designs feature gold embellishment at the frame temples to emphasize its luxury focus.

Tom Ford

This relative upstart brand in the sunglasses industry capitalized on designer Tom Ford's success in high fashion. With a huge variety of avant garde and experimental frame designs in its portfolio, the brand has gathered a reputation among the fashion world's elite movers and shakers.

Oakley, Inc.

Oakley has been a top player in sunglasses since its inception, and cemented that status when it became the de facto "sunglasses mascot" for the surfing and skateboarding worlds, with many of its designs prominently featured on the faces of competing x-games athletes. Its sunglasses are known for high-impact durability and performance, and are often centered around the iconic Oakley "alien eye" oval lens design.