The TRUTH About Designer Sunglasses
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- Опубликовано: 26 сен 2024
- Sunglasses made by top designer brands have risen in popularity (and prices) but did you know that behind it all there's ONE company pulling the strings?
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Script: Jack Tickle-Atwell
Editor: Reid Valaitis + Kirsten Stanley
Project Manager: Lurana McClure Rodríguez
Host: Levi Hildebrand
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Fun fact. Commercial Pilots are no longer allowed to wear polarised sunglasses. At certain angles the polarisation blanks out the digital screens in the cockpit.
Yep, anyone wearing polarized lenses can experience this by looking at their phone and then tilting their head to the side
@@bonniea8189 this really only works with LCD panels. LED and OLED panels do not pass the light through a polarizing filter, like LCD. I can see my Galaxy S20 FE at any angle outside with my sunglasses. It has an OLED screen.
@@DustyTheDog Interesting. Yeah I've noticed it with some car console displays and even some gas pump screens
@@DustyTheDog I test for polarization when I am sorting glasses, by holding the glasses up to my computer screen and then rotating them. They black out at certain angles.
This is a common fact to those in da biz 😋 This is because Aviation screens on dashboards already have VERTICAL polarization, which blocks VERTICAL glare. Sunglass polarization blocks HORIZONTAL glare, so if you combine the two you get total blockage, which equals a blank dial to us. Thankfully, there are plenty of unpolarized Aviator and other Style options 😉 Polarization is not ideal for people with moderate-severe astigmatism OR sports folks, as polarization will mess with your depth perception slightly.
I work as an optician and the one thing I can confirm is that pretty much every frame we get is sent to us by Luxottica. Ray-Bans, Polo Ralph Laurent, Armani, Vogue... All these brands come from Luxottica. And all our materials, lenses, and machines are all Essilor. Only corp name I see besides those two are Optiplus, which I do think is a Belgian company specifically.
So, are these the only companies that we can get the best sunglasses from?
Am going to check the video later, but are the factories situated in Vietnam?
There you can get all sorts of expensive sunglasses for $6 or so.
Brand clothing and bags also are insanely cheap there. My wife and I went home with our suitcases full of Gucci, Northface, Armani and other brands of clothes.
@@cjewe1zDefinitely not. Brands like Cartier, Dior, MJ, LV, etc are not owned by them. Of course there are companies/brands that are actually independent like Charmant, Morel, Serengeti, etc.
@@MR04B
They are not owned by them, but they are produced by them because they have the license. So in the end almost everything is 'Made by Luxoticca'
I've had several aliexpress glasses tested by opticians and the lowest result was UV380. It doesn't make sense for a company to specifically run a factory line that doesn't comply. That would increase their costs more than simply producing UV-protective lenses across the board.
If you want to save money on sunglasses, order the cheap ones and have them tested - most opticians will test for free and it just takes a minute.
thanks if this is real
@@impossiblewhopper1691 100% is. Try it. I thought surely living in Switzerland this would mean some dumb fee (which of course would be negligible compared with the difference to buying fancy shades at full price), but no, even here they tested them for free.
UV absorption is only one aspect though. The overall quality and durability is a major factor in pricing a pair of sunglasses. Like most consumer goods, we get what we pay for. Better quality frames will hold their adjustments better, have better lens materials and the finish on the frames will be more durable. If you get a better pair, frequently you can get a replacement part from the manufacturer to replace a broken one instead of throwing them away. Those are only some of the benefits of buying better quality like just about everything else.
@@WinstonOBoogie_ Yes build quality is important. But i've noticed that quality is starting to take a backseat to profit. and this is with high end stuff Costa, Revo, Ray Ban. All this as the price increases.
@@WinstonOBoogie_ If a single company has too much dominance of the high end and also happens to be a prestige brand, it’s pretty much impossible to say they “you get what you pay for”. The prestige and quality aspects are too intermingled but it is likely that a good portion of the price tag is for brand recognition alone.
Had my wayfarers over 10 years now and despite really not taking care of them-they live in my rucksack that's used daily, and they don't often get put in the case, they've been dropped many times but apart from a few scratches to the frame they are in great condition. The lenses are a mineral glass so don't scratch, and the frame is a cut and shaped acetate (not injection plastic as mentioned) the plastic is sort of translucent red when held up to a very bright light on my black ones, it feels like a quality material in a way most plastics don't. The original wayfarer is the strongest, hardest wearing set of eyewear I've ever had my hands on. That said, not all raybans are as hard wearing, the carbon ones are prone to falling apart and a lot of the newer designs have plastic lenses and feature more injection moulding.
OP which wayfarers do you have? Can you drop a link? Or brand and model name
@@MrViolence999 Pls don’t wear the same sunglasses for 10 years because the sun lenses all have expire dates, about 3-5 years. I learned from this handmade brand called NYBK and their products served me well over many years.
@@hollywoodsalad2670 sounds like a bunch of bs. If the lens is glass you especially have nothing to worry about.
@@007cheburashka lol googling ‘sunglasses lens expiration’ would help ignorance
Fun fact, the carbon fiber ones are one of the few styles of ray bans made in China, while similar styles made in Italy rarely have those quality issues
I have an easy compromise.
I buy quality expensive glasses (I am in Italy, therefore Luxottica-Essilor are EVERYWHERE) but I choose an evergreen style for the frame.
If my retailer has them, I'll take something from an old collection and it will be cheaper.
I always go to the same retailer. They appreciate regular customers and they will go out of their way to treat me well.
Then there's maintenance.
Sunglasses are worn when it's hot.
Sweat is horribly acidic and it will ruin your glasses in no time. When I come home, I wash them in warm (not hot, just tepid) water with baby mild soap. It takes 90 seconds, it takes away all stains and it makes your glasses last.
I have had glasses for more than ten years and they look new.
hey, this was informative. thanks!
I had my Rx put in a pair of Ray-bans for summer wear. I’ll definitely remember this to help keep them looking great between use as my plan is to just replace my Rx in them each year, so it will be more affordable for me.
Unless your sunglasses have regular glasses lens or have an anti reflex treatment it's ok to do that
@@Sheogoratful you can wash them even with treated lenses. That is why you need to use tepid water and very mild soap.
Sorry to break the bad news however the reason most brands and "falling apart" is due to luxottica lowering quality to make LVMH one of the most profitable companies on the planet. I have 50 year old RayBans that look new. I live and sweat in Miami Fl. I bought a New pair of Aviators in 2020 and they are pitting, poorly crafted, and literally...Falling apart.Luxottica ruined many fine brands in order to make a buck! Your advice about rinsing is good. Cheers.
Thank you, macular degeneration runs in my family. My grandmother went blind for the last decade of her life and really struggled, so experiencing that is one of my greatest fears. But I still want to avoid giving my money to monopolies! I will definitely be checking out Sunski!
What sunglasses did you settle on? And r they uv400 and polarized?
I recently bought Akila sun glasses, LA based small company doing luxury quality sunglasses for around $120. Really pleased with them
I have huf x Akila sun glasses a while back and still have them
What kind did you get
@@lchenny8288 I got the Legacy pair, in black. just the most boring ones they had lol
I have a few pairs from them too. They’re really nice quality for the price
For 120 bucks theyre still expensive like raybans right?
Finding sunglasses that fit is more of a struggle than avoiding luxottica. There are a lot of excellent smaller brands out there now.
New in the box, I only buy vuarnet sunglasses, they feature mineral glass and it's a family owned business since the beginning. Super high quality
For example? How would a simple buyer like me could identify that I buy something not from these monopolistic guys but I support with my purchase a small alternative company?
@@theOGabcduong Yes but you can’t adjust the size of a frame/lense…
@@codex6594 So errr ... are you saying that all those companies do their own manufacturing? I smell rebrands - which isn't a problem - but I get the feeling that you think all those companies DO manufacture the lenses. Hell, they may do - but ... have you checked?
Costco is the go to place for these type of glasses. Bought a par of Maui Jim's for $99 when the normally retail for $250
In that picture Dylan wasn't wearing Raybans. He did wear them at some point in 1965 a year before he found the slightly more chic and iconic glasses which I still haven't found.
I didn't think anyone else would notice lol
@@amytownsend8455 haha yeah just wanted to let others know. :)
Likely 1st Ray-Ban Caribbean or some copycat.
This problem also stretches to regular glasses where prescription glasses are so expensive
Yep, and prescription sunglasses are even more expensive than both combined (from my experience at least)
Heya! Funnily enough, we started the process of writing a script for a prescription glasses video and realized we'd be covering a lot of the same stuff 🤣 thanks for joining us here, Mikayla ✌️
@@FutureProofTV lol yeah it’s basically the same problem at that point and I have to go to the box stores because I’ve tried online and couldn’t wear it because the lenses were wrong so that’s been a disaster. At least I try to keep my glasses until they literally break before getting a new pair
Man, I wear mine for like 10 years. The only reason I can (barely) justify spending half a grand on them. I do have a -5 so if you don't want fishbowls, and do care about some anti reflective properties, you'll pay. One lens is more than the frame they're in...
@@dentjoener I have a -5 too so I feel you, actually with my newest glasses the lenses cost 10x the frame, lol. My issue also is that my prescription used to change almost every year, it only stabilized about 2 years ago. At least in my country in Europe prescription glasses are actually a little bit cheaper than in the US (but probably comparably expensive if you take into account what people earn).
I really liked this video but I feel it’s maybe a touch exaggerated although not far off. I personally work for Sunglass Hut and very much understand half of what we sell isn’t amazing quality for what you pay but there are brands that are an exception.
Persol, for example, is one brand that we sell that often integrates glass lenses and better yet most of the product is hand-made, with additional benefits like a modular arm that can expand to fit larger faces better. On sale, if you are patient you can get Persols for about $150-200 USD for a pair of fully handmade Italian glasses with huge historical significance, that better yet uses Acetate a much higher quality way of making plastic glasses is a very good deal. On top of that if you do end up breaking them we have a generous 1-year breakage warranty that allows you to have an allowance of half of what you originally paid for a pair of glasses towards any of your choice. Furthermore, you don't need to spend $200 on a pair of glasses through Luxottica, we have a lot of brands such as Polo, Arnette, and Vogue which often fall into the $100 if you aren't picky about models.
On top of that, I would like to mention Luxottica whilst owning a large market share doesn’t ultimately limit competition, there is still a very saturated amount of competitors which offer great sunglasses for great deals a favorite of mine right now is Kiaura eyewear, where prices can readily be available for around $150. Funny enough similarly priced to most of our Rayban's, similarly most brands that incorporate similar quality materials aren't that much cheaper if you are comparing apples to apples. This was very well touched upon till the end of the video but I feel this needs to be emphasized more because Luxottica ultimately doesn’t have influence to the extent that they are the only ones providing halfway decent sunglasses.
Lastly, I think something that is important is understanding how sunglasses are made, there is a technic called plastic injection which is what most Sunglasses incorporate, whilst you can buy a $50 pair of sunglasses the chances being are plastic injected is a more cost-effective way of producing pairs. Most nicer glasses are acetate which is a method that requires a lot more effort to produce but also makes your more expensive pairs more durable and prone to future wear, Acetate is a process that is furthermore complicated in the instance that you want frames in tortoise colors or unconventional colors, often requiring a high degree of physical input to produce. Whilst you are correct that UV 400 protection is readily available ultimately these lenses can’t be compared, factors such as the materials, lens category, and the polarisation technology aren’t great on cheaper pairs, so much to the extent I wouldn’t recommend cycling with cheaper pairs as your supermarket lenses often affect your depth perception, especially inexpensive polarised supermarket sunglasses.
Super interesting insider info. Thanks.
@@CorinnaOnTheRun For sure, just feel its tricky to make a full judgment without knowing all these factors
This is cool info! I just got some handmade Persols and I’m a huge fan of them
Love my Persol El Professor sunglasses. They really are quality.
I'm not really a brand kinda guy. I do like some local brands but generally it's not something I pay a lot of attention to
I think I owned 20 different pair of sunglasses over the course of my 30 years on this planet. They kept breaking. I thought that's just me being silly, not treating them very well. So why would I go for expensive sunglasses if they'll only last me a year? Well one year my sunglasses broke again but this time it was very apparent that it was due to their low quality. They just disintegrated over time. Okay, I told myself, I'm gonna give this ONE shot and go for expensive sunglasses and see how long they'll last me. I didn't think it was gonna be a good economic decision for me because I'd have to basically wear them for 10+ years to justify the 150 euro price tag for a pair of original wayfarers. (calculating one 15 euro pair of sunglasses every year, which honestly was quite realistic) Anyway I bought them, knowing I'd probably take better care of a more luxury item. That was like 6 years ago and I've owned the same pair of wayfareres since then.
So by that calculation it's only 4 more years until it wasn't only a better ecologic but also a better economic decision to get expensive sunglasses.
Just thought this was an interesting observation. The reason they last longer I think, is split between on the one hand taking better care of them and on the other hand them being better quality.
I had my previous wayfarer for about six years. And the only reason I had to replace them was because I left them in a rental car accidentally.
Designer sunglasses aren't that expensive if you think about their cost per year (like $10) over their lifespan.
This is how everything should be viewed.
I completely agree! For regular wear, I wear Versace or Armani. For sunglasses, Ray Bans. They LAST!
Wayfarers are still handmade in Italy
Plus You spend $ and tend to take better care of them! Don't Buy New. Buy, well taking care of vintage. Avoid luxottica! They have lowered the quality to SHITE!
Good video.
As someone that used to work in optical, I'm glad you touched on luxxotica not simply raising prices and not caring about quality at all. Lots of people seem to think this is the case.
Not trying to excuse their practices (which suck btw), but if their stuff was junk, the major fashion brands (Dior, Armani, etc.) would leave. As you mentioned, they have a reputation to keep.
Unfortunately, the quality of Oakley's has sucked since the takeover. I'm hoping mine last for a loooong time.
You and I have the same experience! Read my large post elsewhere in this comment section.
Ok that's the bit that bothers me - Oakleys have/might have gone downhill. The ones I had failed because the arms touched the inside of the lens for no apparent reason and rubbed the coating. Was the coating also bad? It did wear away fairly easily which makes me wonder if they dropped quality.
What sort of quality issues do you think Oakley have now?
People who buy glasses from Armani don't get my sympathy. It'd be like buying a bicycle from Lamborghini and wondering why it wasn't any good.
Randolph Engineering makes phenomenal aviator sunglasses and offer a lifetime warranty on their frames which makes up for the high cost in my opinion. They're also one of the few higher end brands not under the Luxotica umbrella.
I bought serengetis because high quality, good technology and not Luxottica
@@joshuacoppo2900 I hadn't heard of them before but they look like a great option as well!
Loads of high end independent brands exist, but they're more expensive than mainstream high end
although i agree that their one of the few high quality sunglass manufacturers out there, their hike in prices in the past 3 to 5 years have definitely been noticeable. I don't think their manufacturing processes or technology has changed much, if at all. Of course, i'm sure they have to eventually give their employees raises every once in a while. Having said that, i've purchased 2 different sunglasses from them in the past 5 years and can vouch for their quality and classic styling. I probably would purchase from them more often if they were a bit cheaper.
I just got a pair and the build quality is insane compared to the ray bans I used to have.
🎉 congrats on your play button!
Even happier knowing I’ve been wearing Sunski for 4 years now
Hey thanks so much! We really appreciate the support 😊
I bought some Persol folding sunglasses - not the Steve McQueen model, but the original style. They’re extremely well made, timeless, and will last decades. Bought 2nd hand for a fraction of the full price. Very happy with them!
Same but I did get the Steve McQueen ones
Persol is owned by luxxotica lol
@@maxvalentine8010It’s the best Luxoticca brand
I bought Polaroid sunglasses six years ago. If they can't polarize then nobody can. They patented the process. The glasses have been with me to some rough places, all kinds of weather, crammed into my backpack, smacked in the face by vegetation and bumblebees, dropped on rocks, and they remain in good condition. The price was very fair.
I got polarized glasses for $1 at the $1 store. They work great and I don't give a fuck if I lose, break or destroy them. They're sunglasses and they serve a purpose that is not flexing or fashion.
Would have been nice to accompany the article with a list of companies NOT owned by Luxottica like Smith Optics, 100%, Rudy Project, Maui Jim, Spy Optics, etc
Look into Kering. They own Gucci, YSL and now Maui Jim
Marcolin have Tom Ford, Anyhow I don’t think the man who made the video is a professional in the eyewear industry tho
I love love love my Sunski sunglasses, they are my first pair of good quality sunnies and are a game changer while driving. Plus they are a great shape and thus flattering worn. I’m coming around to not just believing but also practicing doing some reading/learning and investing in quality. As long as I am thoughtful with my quality items, I know they’ll last me a long while :)
Yeh...60 Minutes did a report on this about 10 years ago. It's good this info is updated with your report. Keep up the good work, bro!!!!
And here I thought EL were quick to take down the video.
I have sunski,and loving the quality and what the brand stands for. Thanks to you i found them,and i feel good every time i use them. Never buying the expensive brands, for me anyways. Buying another sunski coz they give back to the planet,why not !😊
I love the old Wayfarers without the RayBan logo on the arm. I have a stash to last me the rest of my life.
I have a pair of 1930's style frames... seriously ancient (they have CELLULOID nosepieces!!) that are the earliest RayBan frames out there! They are an unusual shape, but are gold-plated with the OLD style temples, thin metal with curling ear hooks! Took them to an antiques dealer and he said they were genuine! I'm hanging onto these babies!
*Oh boy, someone's on the A-list black list now* 😆
👀👀 if we don't post next week you know what happened
I work at sunglass hut and two reasons why the prices keep going up are because of inflation and thefts.
I get migraines bad, and a friend gave me their old Smith sunglasses and it was a game changer. Well years and many scratches later I needed a new pair and fainted when I found they're $400!!!! So did a bunch of research and found a $15 pair which worked just as good! I just couldn't justify that much even though it was for medical purposes.
What brand?
I am want to thank you for telling the truth about EL. EL has made it next to impossible for our sunglass line, "Tonic Eyewear" to be offered to consumers in select stores because of their monopolistic attitude. There are brands out there that are higher quality than anything EL offers. Ours being one of them. Hopefully, someone gets the word to end this Standard Oil of Eyewear.
Luxottica is like the Mob. But they do make some nice glasses.
Hahaha so accurate
early here yet again, said the video was privated for a second lmao what was that about or was it on my end. anyway great to see another upload
For about 30-60 mins.
Hey there! The video was originally published in a lower quality than we usually upload in so we re-uploaded ✌️ hope this clears things up!
@@FutureProofTV oh i see congrats to the team on the play button by the way!
@@owenhowever1958 Thanks so much, Owen!
I was hoping to hear about the mid range shades. Like Shadyrays or Knockarounds. Covered the high end and the cheap junk, but there's a middle ground that got overlooked.
I have some of the Ventura? I believe shadyrays they are a lot like the wayfarers really good I’ve had them for about a year
Came here looking for a comment mentioning Knockaround. When I first heard of them through an Instagram ad in 2021, I wanted to give it a shot and bought a pair of wayfarers and aviators, still in great shape. Definitely recommend them.
Brevity is the soul of wit--that's ten minutes of my life that I'll never get back.
I’ve had great service from Oakley in the UK when my sunglasses broke. Either fixed free of charge or for a nominal charge. Very impressed.
Luxxotica is basically the Mafia of eyewear. As for paying 100s of dollars for sunglasses, how lousy do you feel after you lose them? No thanks. My range is not too cheap. Not too expensive.
I think the sensible solution is to buy mid-tear sunglasses. Those are connected to a name with a reputation and are safe to use (and will probably last a while) without paying for designer brands. It's true that if it's not regulated it could be a problem, but sunglasses are some the worst price mark-up goods- they're dirt cheap to make and there's absolutely no reason in the world to pay 200$ for them.
guys i'm sure you'll get to a million and beyond! just bcause it's so interesting to listen to you and look at these graphs
I recently got a set of Maui Jims with prescription lenses - an independent company not owned by E.L. They cost, erm, a LOT. But they are hands down the best glasses I’ve ever owned, even with commercial prescription brands. After doing a multi-day road trip in them, I think it was worth every penny.
I've never worn sunglasses in my life. What's the appeal?
@@dimitar297 Reducing brightness and glare. My glasses have polarized lenses, which reduce stray light. Here’s an easy experiment - put on a pair of polarized sunglasses, and go look at some clouds. They’ll immediately appear much sharper and well-defined. This is true of all sorts of things. I feel safer driving on a sunny day with polarized glasses on, because I can see far better.
@@dimitar297not having to deal with the sun? Looks?
First off let me say that i'm a sunglasses man! I can't wear Rayband or Oakley (made by same company) because they give me headaches........wear them for a week, I get a headache. Stop wearing them for two weeks everything good! Start back wearing them and headaches again. I did this for three occasions and the headaches kept returning so I was done with them. I stepped up a notch and wear Maui Jim or Vuarnets and no problem! AHHH, peace! I spoke to a sales rep in a local sunglasses store about it and she said that the level of the filter and the quality of the lens on the MJ's in particular (Not saying that V isn't great) is way superior than Rb or Oakley. My eyes and my head tend to agree!
If you can wear Rb or Oakley then kuddos to you but not for me.
Blessings!
Commenting now before watching a minute of it: I so so so so hope Levi shows us the Oakley founder/CEO's mansion. It's horrific and amazing.
Fuuuuuuu we totally should have!!
Yeah this guy is pretty shady. He knew about Lance Armstrong's doping and kept it quiet and silenced some Oakley employees as Lance was propelling the sale of their glasses like no other. I'm pretty sure Lance was single handedly responsible for a lot of Oakley's success before the sale to Luxotica.
@@thru_and_thru everyone in cycling was doping. Almost every single sports top competition is riddled with PEDs. None of this is secret
Deja Vu but in 1080p
Haha whoops!
5:28 Captain* Jack Sparrow
How could we forget his official title 😭😪
Luxottica one of biggest low key monopolies
The irony of getting a Casper ad in the middle of this video…
I'm really surprised that the Oakley thing was even remotely legal
From a french guy, I buy only Moscot brand (eye and sun glasses with Nikon glasses), created in 1915, in New York, the original creator of the Wayfarers (please check this out), but to bad, the design got stolen....Lemtosh are Iconics, last for ever, and real after sales services from their retailers, you may change parts if necessary....pricy but worth it, by the way, the Pirate wears only that brand.
Johnny doesn't wear only that brand, but yeah, Moscot is high quality.
Idk why the algorithm recommended your channel to me, however I'm glad it did. You have content on your channel i never knew I was interested in or would be in. I have been binging your content, very methodical and well put together the quality of your videos is simple yet so good. Keep it up man! You got a new subscriber!
doochey people need these brands to feel special, because nothing screams i think im better than you because i paid $400 for a $1.32 plastic frame
Screw those prices, period. I'm going to DHGate if I want em.
I recently bought a pair of Maui Jims. Really happy with them
Glad you're enjoying them! Thanks for taking the time to join us here, Abel 🤗
I feel you should have talked more about the tech behind high quality lenses and frames. I did a lot of research before buying my last pair and the difference in quality between the cheap DTC glasses I got and a RayBan seemed quite small. Even though the video mentions that there are good DTC brands it takes too long to nail the main point, in my opinion - that not only RayBans and friends are bad for the industry, they are also mostly overpriced.
@Beaverish Buck Teeth What would be the lie my friend?
Annnnnd, my Dollar General knock-offs of what Tom Cruise wore in "Risky Business" cost $6.00 in 2012 and I still have 'em.
Darkest, not scratched, and fuctional.
Six bucks.
For those who are bragging that they still have functioning frames: I still use the same frame I had in 2016 and it was a generic no-brand name that cost $10 including compatible lens and prescription and I am still using it to this day.
I did have to replace the lens in 2019 though, because I needed to have my lenses corrected.
They probably lasted you because you’re a nerd that doesn’t go outside or take your glasses off unless you are going to be in the same room as a mirror
I'll see your 2016 frames and raise you my great great grandmother's Victorian gold=plated spectacle frames. I had them re-lensed and now wear them when doing cosplay. I have six or seven pairs of Victorian frames. Those puppies were built to LAST!
Lol. They are brainwashed.
I had prescription lenses put in Prada frames I paid $20 for at an auction. They’re at least twenty years old and a style that’s no longer being made so whenever I’m ask where I got them I just say they’re vintage.
I have a pair of Rayban New Wayfarer’s I bought in 2010 - Aaaaaand I still look just like Jack Nicholson when I wear ‘em !!!!
I work for Ray-Ban, I love the brand but the company practices are lame. Not a fan of how they handled Oakley at all, but I guess that’s just capitalism & strategy for ya.
What was not mentioned specifically is that Luxxotica now OWNS the Sunglass Hut AND LensCrafters! They MAY also own Pearle Vision (not sure).
I am a member of the Lions Clubs, and I accept, sort, repair, grade and package used eyeglasses (over a thousand pairs a month) to be sent to specialists in the Lions Club, who then further sort them by prescription, and send the glasses overseas to third world countries to provide vision for people too poor to afford eye care. Thus, I come across a LOT of glasses!
I agree with this guy that Luxxotica is a gigantic "octopus" controlling the glasses market but also they DO provide excellent quality. I can tell just by touch alone that Ray Ban, Versace, Oakley, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, Brooks Brothers, Armani, Armani Exchange, Deneuve, Gucci and many other top label brands are owned by Luxxotica AND that they are high quality. Knock-offs exist, and I generally can find them immediately.
I deplore Luxxotica's business practices (as an INDIVIDUAL! I do NOT speak for Lions Clubs!) but yes, their quality IS maintained. If you want to avoid Luxxotica, then EyeBobs, Eye Buy Direct, and the brand he mentioned and a number of other Internet based companies DO sell non Luxxotica eyeglasses.
I bought a pair of Suncloud glasses after seeing them recommended on Reddit. I have super sensitive blue eyes, my optometrist told me I have "absolutely no natural sun protection" in my eyes. And I absolutely love them! They're not the cheapest but I treat them like crap and they still fit with no scratches.
Grey eyes (and to a lesser extent, blue) are that 'color' because they have no melanin, or no color actually. Same reason the sky is blue. Anyways, no melanin, no sunlight getting reflected back away from your eyes. But yeah, the snow flashbangs me several times a year
I think we need to factor in that one big reason expensive pairs tend to last longer us that when you spend 200+ you might be more inclined to take care of them 🤣
I am disappointed that you didn't try to push people away from the monopoly, no matter what the prices are just ridiculous
I have some prescription 2-4-2 sunglasses from superdry they were expensive but they have lasted ages and I mostly wear them in night clubs when on drugs
Hi there, loved the video and also have a small part of this story that might interest you! So, I live in the province where Luxottica was founded and still has a lot of its original factories: it's called Belluno and it's mostly known for Cortina and the Dolomites. One of the reasons why Luxottica was that successful is that the area already had a tradition of making good quality eyewear since pre-industrial times. While at the beginning, during the Italian economic boom, the presence of such a successful business was good for our mountainous and marginal territory, the population in the last decades has grown more and more dependent on it, with a good portion of the working class being employed in Luxottica and a lot of other smaller business working in the supply chain. The big issue is that this giant is shaping from the core how our province is developing, without giving back enough and preparing a future where younger generations will be still more dependent on it. And while a lot of us youngsters are leaving because here is either Luxottica or a very precarious job position, we fear what kind of damage to the economy some sort of delocalisation could cause. Despite this, we are resilient, resourceful and have the luck to live in one of the richer areas of Europe (northern Italy): I can't imagine the impact that corporations like this can cause to poorer areas of the world 😢
As someone who works for this industry and a person who works for luxottica, I love seeing how people talk about my company as the devil. Also, a little notes about eye insurance( not just eye med). They don't cover much and they are the reason why prescription products are more expensive.
You'll find myt posts refreshing, then. While I'm NOT fond of your company's business practices, I DO agree that they produce high quality frames! And I sort over 1,000 pairs of different brands each month for the Lions Club, so I have experience in nearly every eyeglass manufacturer out there. Your company does produce quality.
Back in college in 2005 I tried Julbo, a French company that makes Mountaineering sunglasses, and they have more affordable street shades, best quality and they cost less than half of Rayban or oakley, Julbo still sells expensive models, understandable if you will need them to protect your eyes while climbing the Everest, but their everyday styles are very affordable and have the same tech... I don't mind paying a price for quality, but paying just because of the name on the temple is ridiculous
This is why I stopped wearing designer eyewear years ago...I'm happy with my generic sunglasses that has the same style and offers similar protection but at fraction of the prices
I prefer Maui Jim sunglasses, but prefer not to pay their high prices. Many do not know that Maui Jim's discontinued models are now sold by Costco. You can buy glasses that retail frequently over $300 for just $96 for Costco members.
These are factory sealed eyewear with Maui Jim's case and microfiber cloth.
Maui Jim is now owned by Kering, so soon will be overpriced as the Luxottica and Safilo brands :/
Adam Ruins Everything touched on the monopoly in glasses. First time you learn about it you’re just like yoooo wtf??
How difficult it is it to design functional and fashionable sunglasses? There are only 2 moving parts and the lenses have to be in front of the eyes - both of them, one lens per eye.
Anyone that pays $399 for a pair of sunglasses has had their brain removed or got too much money and far too little sense.
Your paying 389.99 for the little Ray Ban logo. And the perceived social status one associates with expensive items
My mom got me a pair of $350 Porsche sunglasses but I prefer my 2 Prada knockoffs. Not because of comfort, style or better quality it's bc I won't care if I lose them
@@J_Braz_ Then my second paragraph still applies.
Welp, I just watched this video on the day that I decided to overcome my fear of sunglasses and buy the ones I really liked from my local drugstore. I guess it was a bit of a mistake but at least I'm happy that I'm not delusion in beign afraid to wear sunglasses because they trick the iris into opening more due to the dimmer light and thus damaging the eyes. But I kinda got them because it's hard for me to find ones that fit me and I found them and secondly, I thought they'd help with my potential sun allergy.
I have owned a set of Rayban New Wayfarer for about 6 or 7 years. Have tightened the screws on the frame once. The lenses are ‘Crystal’, which is a combination of glass and polymer. There isn’t a single scratch on these. I owned a pair of RB3025 aviators with Chromance lenses and polarised - great driving specs - but they started to peel at the edge of the lenses and had fine scratches on them, which didn’t bother me too much, after about 4 years. Not all Ray Bans have the same lenses. The crystal is far superior and you will get decades out of them if you keep them in a case when not in use. I won’t get the ones with plastic again. Btw, I use one pair that is Polarised and one that’s not, depends what i am doing.
I’d love it if there was a place where you could specifically find alternatives to hyped, admittedly good but insanely pricey products that are just as good or even just almost as good but more affordable for the everyday person 👀
Google
@@snuffspoon bro I’m lazy!
Occasionally you can find brands like skeleton sunglasses that are made in luxottica factories in Italy but in the beginning only cost like $35. If you go to their website now they charge over $200 for the same models I bought for $35.
Now I'm left searching for cheap sunglasses made in Italy rather than China.
Why don't you just pay more for better sunglasses
@@nothomelessonyoutube because they aren't better sunglasses... Did you not watch the video?
@@xylo5750 I did but I have also touched real ray bans, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton sunglasses. They just are better than your 20-70 dollar bullshit. Oakley another glasses company owned by luxottica. Are awesome they worked amazing for me. If you want better shit you gotta pay more and do research.
i know a guy who works in the eye industry as a wholesaler and the frames have markups of 1500& > 10000%s. the frames are stamped out, high volume & for pennies. the hinges are low cost, they will always be a weak point of failure. screws are made small on purpose because the thread will sheer off after a set time. UV400 protection is not exactly hard either to apply as a coating. what would be more fancy is to apply the opitcal coatings that people like canon / nikon apply that harden the surface of the glass to make it more scratch resistant & for optical reasons.
I'm going to shout out William Painter here. We've got 3 pairs of them and they look great and are amazingly built.
Gone through many pairs before but can't seem to break these.
I've got a pair of similar Armani's and the build quality is night and day.
I will say it again cause the video was taken down the truth of Future Proof is that they never miss on a video
We appreciate you, Daniel!!!
Tbh i just wear the sunglasses in-store when i need a new pair of glasses, and see which one look the best. I rarely care which brand it is
I’ve just bought some prescription sunnies from Zenni because I do not have $400-1000 to spend. It’s damned scary. The costs are insane!
Stopped buying raybans when they got rid of glass lenses. It's like designer watches made by Fossil. A race to the bottom of quality. No offence but it's what happens when accounts and marketing are valued higher than other departments of large companies.
Most of their sunglasses still have glass lenses? All of their most popular frames have them
The problem with sunglasses is that they're easy to forget left and right, once you remove them when day turns to night. If you don't carry a purse or a backpack, you're very likely to just leave them lying around. I usually buy sunglasses that he drugstore, for around 10 euros a pair, and this lasts me for as long as I don't lose them. Sure, maybe their quality is not the very best, but according to their labelling they offer the protection I need, and they don't necessarily look terrible like the "dime a dozen" glasses you describe in your video. I'm surprised you didn't talk about the markup brands like Ray-ban make on a pair of say, aviator frames. Good video though!
If you mess your eyes up, you'll have to get prescription sg's or transitions. I guarantee you won't lose those, cos you'll end up walking around half blind!
Huh, I didn’t know that the cheap, freebie sunglasses could potentially be harmful. That’s like all I use since I have like 4 pairs! May need to look into that more (although truly I don’t wear sunglasses that much and they mostly sit in my car and get put on during *particulalry* bright days while I’m driving)
This really isn't a video about the sunglass industry, more of a case study of Essilor-Luxxotica.
I love giving insightful comments that let creators know exactly what I like about their stuff, but all I can say for this is.... Good. Very good. Also, how future proof is the cannabis industry?
I still have my -resin made, no plastic- all black Wayfarer classics made by B&L from the 1980's (that do not carry the RayBan logo on the sides nor the lens like the cheaply plastic current ones from Italy). They are intact and have been all around the world with me. I also have the 40th Anniversary Edition tortoise version from 1994.
For riding my bicycle or driving I use a $20 USD pair of Milwaukee safety glasses from Home Depot. As good as any purpose specific sunglasses I've ever had. In fact, the only pair of Oakleys I've had fell apart within a year.
I literally liked this video. Like literally irl and I like literally liked the video by liking the like button with like my fingers. I also typed out words to like literally leave a comment. I’m also like literally subscribed because I like you and your videos so much, Levi.
I've had the same Walmart sunglasses since I was a baby and now I'm 87 years old.
Congrats on your 100k.
I really enjoy your work.
Keep going.
For Styling I love Jacques Marie Mage and Dita the most....but regarding optics alone Maui Jims are the best .
Interesting video but I want to correct something around minute 9. You’re leaving viewers with the impression that cheap sunglasses are less likely to have UV protection, and that’s not true. It’s actually difficult to produce plastics or glass which do not protect against UV.
You missed the MOST important aspect of all. People keep buying new glasses because of the latest FASHION TREND. How could you do such an in depth video of this and not mention this...
meat rider
I recently took my ray bans in to repair and was happy to see that they can due that instead of buying a whole new pair. Levi id love to know a little more about the manufacturing of companies like Ray Ban and not just their business model.
I am not sure I believe the whole thing about the quality still being decent/good in order to maintain reputation. I say that because I always owned second hand sunglasses that were given to me by older relatives (old school wayfarers, aviators, etc) and never had issues with them. Then, a few years back, I decided to actually drop a few hundred dollars on a brand new pair of Raybans, right out of a Rayban shop. I justified it by assuring myself that Rayban made good stuff that would last, and buying right out of the shop would ensure that I was getting the real thing rather than risking a fake if ordered online. The result? They were complete garbage. I babied those things and still somehow managed to completely destroy the lens coating within just a few weeks. I've heard similar stories from others about modern Raybans being high priced garage. Seeing as how they are all owned by the same company, I can only assume that they don't care as much about their reputation since there is no competition to worry about.
The indigenous sunglasses are totally fashionable! They look designer af
so, $10 random branded sunglasses from the gas station? yes please
I feel like there's so many Luxottica videos on youtube but I keep clicking. Their greediness is just unfathomable
I've bought my first and only Ray-Bans some 6 years ago as a treat to myself for my first promotion at work. They cost a ton of money compared to what I put on my nose until then, so I took a great care for them. 2 years ago I noticed some 'scratch marks' on the lenses. I was surprised as I've never dropped them or left them on any rough surface and they've always been either on me or in the protective case. I tried to clean them which only made things worse. Turns out the lens film started chipping away because of... Direct sunlight and high temperature xD as I later learned. You can't re-apply this film onto the lenses, so I ended up buying new ones from an unknown, local brand.
I've never had lenses deteriorate so quickly. That, combined with the mental toll (at least for me, if you're loaded and can afford losing/destroying them it's probably a different story) of making sure I have them with me at all times and they don't get scratched/dropped made me decide to not buy designer glasses ever again.
That being said, the pair you've shown in the video said they were made of acetate (cellulose fiber), that's not injection moulded plastic and RBs made of acetate are considered 'better' and more durable overall. They make the same models out of different materials sometimes, so keep that in mind. Or better, don't feed the corporate hydra and buy from a local brand.
Loved your video! In actively trying to avoid E.L. I found Tens and INVU. I prefer Tens while on vacation because of their amazingly cool filter which instantly puts me in a good mood, but wear INVU regularly for the polarized lens.
My glasses are Warby Parker and my sun shades are Shady Rays.
I’ll say one thing I’m favor of (some) Ray Bans…. The ones with glass lenses are much more scratch resistant than glasses with plastic lenses.
I had been putting my prescriptions in Ray-Ban wayfarers for the past 30 years, until I switch to put in my prescription in Oakley wrap-arounds best decision I ever made
I remember getting a pair of Ray Bans as a kid from the gas station.
he missed the part where they've increased their prices due to the cost of inflation over the years
I'm an optician, and honestly....the quality of Ray Ban isn't that great. Most of their sunglasses are designed in a way that makes them impossible to be modified to fit the customers head, and they tend to break often.
Plus the company is a pain to work with when trying to order spare parts etc. Its a shame cause there are so many other sunglasses that have a way better quality in general, can be modified better and are more affordable.