Oliver Peoples is an American luxury eyewear brand established in 1986, and owned by

Luxottica Luxottica Group S.p.A. is an Italian eyewear conglomerate and the world's largest company in the eyewear industry. It is based in Milan, Italy. Luxottica is a vertically integrated company, which has been described as a monopoly—it designs, m ...

. The brand is sold in Oliver Peoples boutiques, online, and in fashion boutiques and department stores throughout the world. Oliver Peoples eyewear is designed in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, Italy, and Japan.Kara Baskin
Oliver Peoples is the latest eyewear retailer to focus on the Prudential Center
''

Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe'' is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes, and has a total circulation of close to 300,000 print and digital subscribers. ''The Boston Glob ...

'', May 5, 2017

History

Oliver Peoples was founded by Kenny Schwartz, Larry Leight and his brother Dennis Leight in 1986. Before they launched the company, Kenny Schwartz and Larry Leight worked as an

opticians An optician, or ''dispensing optician'', is a technical practitioner who designs, fits and dispenses lenses for the correction of a person's vision. Opticians determine the specifications of various ophthalmic appliances that will give the nec ...

. They would draw glasses on the celebrities in ''Vogue''. In 1984, Leight designed a frame, later named "Identity," that was fabricated for pop artist

Andy Warhol Andy Warhol (; born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. His works explore the relationsh ...

. Warhol wore the glasses for an editorial spread published in the German magazine ''Männer Vogue'' in 1987. In 1986, while Schwartz and the Leight brothers were searching for eyewear brands to stock their new boutique in

West Hollywood, California West Hollywood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Incorporated in 1984, it is home to the Sunset Strip. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census, its population was 35,757. It is considered one of the most ...

, they purchased a bulk lot of American brand name frames in their original packaging for $5,000 at an auction in Connecticut. While going through the inventory, a receipt was found naming the frames' original owner, Oliver Peoples. The brothers named the company after him. In 2006, Oakley acquired Oliver Peoples for $46.7 million. In 2007, Oakley was purchased by eyewear giant

. In 2009, Oliver Peoples collaborated with actress

Zooey Deschanel Zooey Claire Deschanel (; born January 17, 1980) is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She made her film debut in '' Mumford'' (1999) and had a supporting role in Cameron Crowe's film '' Almost Famous'' (2000). Deschanel is known for h ...

for a signature pair of sunglasses called "Zooey."

References

{{reflist, 30em Luxottica Eyewear brands of the United States American companies established in 1986 Manufacturing companies established in 1986 Eyewear companies of the United States Companies based in Los Angeles 1986 establishments in California

History

See also

References