If you are a fan of Reese Witherspoon or Miley Cyrus, you may have noticed Oakley sunglasses. Since 1975, Oakley has been manufacturing damage-resistant and high-quality sunglasses.
Regular frames in the market contain pressure spots. Oakley frames take away pressure spots with high-tech designs and interchangeable lenses. Besides, Oakley frames make vision as sharp and accurate as possible.
Hence, you may wonder, “Where are Oakleys made?”
Since 2007, Oakley has been manufacturing Oakley sunglasses in China. Before China, all Oakley sunglasses were manufactured in the United States.
After Luxottica’s acquisition, Oakley manufacturers are making Oakley sunglasses in different factories in China.
Oakley is no longer manufactured in the USA. Nonetheless, the manufacturer asserts that Oakley products will meet the same standards.
Which Oakleys are made in the USA?
In China, the Oakley manufacturer makes the majority of Oakley products. Oakley products are no longer tagged as “made in the USA.”
From 1975 to 2007, all manufacturing processes like designing, manufacturing, and assembling were done in the United States.
Oakley provides a variety of products:
- Shields
- Eyewear accessories
- Prescription sunglasses
- Eyeglasses
- Googles
- NFL and NFL accessories
Oakley manufacturers were making all of these products in the finest manufacturing facilities across the United States. When Luxottica purchased this brand, they transferred all of the manufacturing plants to China.
Consequently, you will hardly find “made in USA” Oakleys today.
Related Read: Where Are Cartier Glasses Made
Are Oakley sunglasses made in Italy?
No, Oakley’s sunglasses are not made in Italy. Though it is owned by a French-Italian multinational corporation, the manufacturer makes all of its products in China.
Italy is widely famous for manufacturing world-class sunglasses. In Italy, numerous brands produce some of the most iconic sunglasses frames.
The below brands manufacture luxury sunglasses in Italy:
- Luxottica
- Ioves
- Safilo
- Mirage
- Ottica Prealpi
- Handsome in Rome
- Essequadro Eyewear
However, Oakley doesn’t manufacture any of its products in Italy. Italian giant company Luxottica purchased this eyewear brand. But they didn’t transfer their manufacturing facilities to Italy.
Rather, Luxottica shifted all of its manufacturing facilities to China. Consequently, today’s Oakleys sunglasses are tagged with “made in China.”
Where are Oakley Holbrooks made?
Oakley Holbrooks are designed and engineered in California. After designing, the manufacturer makes these Holbrooks in China.
Talking about Oakley Holbrooks, it is a super light sunglass with good peripheral vision. On top, the lens frames are thicker and sport distinctive.
Oakley Holbrooks are:
- Light
- Flexible
- Contoured
The frames have a classic square look. The Oakley Holbrook frame will minimize gaps and maximize coverage.
Now, you may think, “Are Oakley Holbrooks durable?” Well, the manufacturer uses O-Matter in Oakley Holbrooks. This O-Matter is a durable and lightweight plastic that won’t crack under stress.
In the 2008 Winter Olympics, 52 medalists wore Oakleys. You may notice Oakley Holbrooks on world-famous skiers, hikers, bikers, climbers, and so on.
Oakley designed Oakley Holbrooks according to ANSI Z87.1 requirements. They are not officially rated for OSHA standards.
Where are Oakley backpacks made?
Before Luxottica, the manufacturer made Oakley backpacks in California. Since 2007, Oakley backpacks have been manufactured in China.
On 21 June 2007, Luxottica purchased Oakley and began manufacturing all of its products. As a renowned product of Oakley, Luxottica also manufactures Oakley backpacks.
For school use, Oakley backpacks are great because they are sturdy and comfortable. Oakley kitchen sink backpacks come with a capacity of 34 liters. Besides, you can find Oakley backpacks in different shapes and sizes.
Nonetheless, there are some disadvantages of Oakley backpacks. For example, Oakley backpacks are not waterproof. Oakley backpacks will also cost you a lot.
Against manufacturer defects in material and workmanship, Oakley warrants for 1 year from the date of purchase for its backpacks. This warranty does not cover damage from accidents, abuse, or normal wear and tear.
You can claim a warranty on Oakleys through the authorized Oakley dealer.
Is Oakley a US company?
Yes, Oakley is an American company that operates as an independent subsidiary of EssilorLuxottica.
Based in Lake Forest, California, Oakley manufactures sunglasses, clothing, and sports equipment. Since 1975, Oakley has been designing, developing, and manufacturing stylish sports performance equipment.
American designer and business magnet, James Jannard, founded Oakley, Inc., as an eyewear and apparel company. He started the Oakley business with a small investment of $300 only.
In 1984, Jannard began manufacturing Oakley sunglasses in a factory. In 1995, Oakley went public raising $230 million!
Within a decade, Oakley hired Oliver Peoples Group to manufacture high-end fashion-branded eyewear. The contribution of these Oliver People groups in Oakleys can’t be described.
However, the Italian giant, Luxottica, announced its plan to purchase Oakley in 2007. They bought Oakley for $2.1 billion.
Who owns Oakley now?
The largest eyewear manufacturer, Luxottica, owns Oakley now. They paid $2.1 billion for Oakley.
After selling Oakley, James Jannard, founder of Oakley, went on to found Red Digital Camera. Jannard is now manufacturing professional digital cinematography cameras and accessories.
In 2013, Oakley also sold its polarized sunglasses brand, REVO, for $20 million. They shut down the Oakley website in 2015. Today, Luxottica maintains all operations of Oakley Inc.
Luxottica owns a lot of eyewear brands like:
- Ray-Ban
- Persol
- Essilor
- Oakley
- OPSM
- LensCrafters
- Eyemed
- Sears Optical
- Pearle Vision
Luxottica makes yearly sales revenue of $280 million from Oakleys.
Wrap Up
Oakley is a renowned brand in the US eyewear market. They have a variety of sunglasses specially made for bikers, hikers, and sports enthusiasts.
Though Luxottica makes Oakley eyewear products in China, its premium quality hasn’t been spoiled.