Oliver Peoples: Vintage Eyewear

Oliver Peoples consistently impress me with their eyewear collections, and this latest is no different.

The company was founded in 1986 when opticians Larry and Dennis Leight opened an optical boutique on Sunset Boulevard, California. Earlier that year, they purchased an estate collection of vintage American-made eyewear. The assortment included thousands of beautifully filigreed rimless and metal frames, including clip-on metal sunglasses produced by iconic American companies, such as by Bausch & Lomb and American Optical. All the frames were unworn, in mint condition and in their original packaging.

The brothers purchased the entire lot, which included a receipt signed with the name “Oliver Peoples,” who they reasoned was the original owner or distributor. When they decided to sell the estate collection in their retail store, they decided to use this name in his honor.

Now years later, encouraged by loyal friends, family and customers Oliver Peoples founder Larry Leigh, has dug through his personal archive of original Oliver Peoples designs and decided to revive several iconic, brand-defining styles.

He believes, and I’m inclined to agree, that these classic styles is just as strong today as it was twenty years ago. Since very few originals still exist, and because it is essential that the same attention to detail, craftsmanship and the integrity of the original styles be retained, the brand reached out to the same Japanese factory to reproduce these designs in a limited run. The frames will be made available to select customers.