About Us

Origins of Sunglasses

It is said that the Roman emperor Nero liked to watch gladiator fights with emeralds that appear to have worked rather like mirrors. In 12th century China flat panes of smoky quartz were used to protect the eyes from glare although they offered no corrective powers. Historical documents describe the use of such crystals by judges in Chinese courts to conceal their facial expressions while questioning witnesses.

In the mid 18th century, James Ayscough, an English designer and maker of scientific instruments, began experimenting with tinted lenses in spectacles to correct specific vision impairments although these were not intended to be used as sunglasses.

Foster Grant

In the early 1900s, the use of sunglasses started to become more widespread, especially among the pioneering stars of silent movies. They wore sunglasses to protect their eyes from the harshly bright lighting of some early film studios, often taking them off only when stepping in front of the camera to shoot a scene.

Inexpensive mass-produced sunglasses were introduced to America by Sam Foster in 1929. Foster found a ready market on the beaches of Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he began selling sunglasses under the Foster Grant name from a Woolworth on the Boardwalk. Credited with the birth of sunglasses and creator of a fashion icon synonymous with style and chi, the company has gone on to become pioneers and a world leader of affordable quality sunglasses and ready-to-wear reading glasses.

In the 1960's, Foster Grant catapulted to fame with an advertising campaign, "Who's That Behind Those Foster Grants?," featuring iconic Hollywood celebrities such as Raquel Welch. Pop and film stars quickly adopted the habit of wearing sunglasses as part of their image and the masses immediately followed. Thus began the correlation between wearing sunglasses and "being cool." The band has had many famous wearers including the king of rock n roll himself, the legendary Elvis Presley.

Throughout the years the brand has been supported by the hugely successful and popular "Who's that behind the Foster Grants?" advertising campaign that has also featured other famous stars such as Woody Allen, Peter Sellers, Vanessa Redgrave, Mia Farrow, Raquel Welch and more recently, Cindy Crawford, to name just a few. Ex-Bond girl Honor Blackman (aka Pussy Galore) has also been the face of Foster Grant's reading glass collection.

Now part of FGX International, Foster Grant remains the largest distributor of sunglasses in the world and continues to create affordable, fashionable and on-trend styles. Women's Wear Daily named Foster Grant one of the top 100 most recognizable brands in prior years, and Advertising Age named "Who's That Behind Those Foster Grants?" one of the top 100 advertising campaigns of all time.

Hollywood legend and beauty icon Raquel Welch, who first became associated with the brand in the 1960's, returned as a spokesperson for Foster Grant’s 80th anniversary celebrations in 2009. She starred in US television commercials for reading glasses and sunglasses collections and helped support Foster Grant's US celebrations and related charitable efforts on TV, radio and Internet promotions.

FGX International

FGX International is a leading designer and marketer of non-prescription reading glasses and sunglasses with a portfolio of established, highly recognized eyewear brands including Foster Grant®, Magnivision®, Angel ™, Gargoyles®, Anarchy®, Corinne McCormack®, SolarShield® and PolarEyes®. FGXI also holds licenses for brands such as Ironman, Levi Strauss, Body Glove and C9 by Champion. Based in Smithfield, Rhode Island, FGXI has approximately 350 full time employees. Additional offices are located in New York City, San Luis Obispo, CA; Toronto, Canada; Stoke-on-Trent, England; Mexico City, Mexico; and Shenzhen, China.

What do you call your Sunglasses?

There are many different names given to sunglasses all over the world. Here is a list of variations starting with the most common:-

Sunglasses is in common use in Britain and North America and often preceded by "pair of".
Glares is a term popular in India if the glass is dark and Coolers if it is light.
Sun spectacles is a term used by some opticians.
Spekkies is a term used predominantly in southern Australia.
Sun specs (also sunspecs) is the shortened form of the above term.
Sun-shades can also refer to the sun-shading eyepiece-type, although the term is not exclusively used. Also used is the derivative abbreviation, shades.
Dark glasses (also preceded by pair of) is another generic term in common use.
Sunnies is Australian and New Zealand Slang
Specs is a common name for sunglasses in North America.
Smoked spectacles usually refers to the darkened eyepieces worn by blind people.
Locs (also maddoggers) is a term for very dark lensed sunglasses.
Sang Gleezies (from sunglasses)

If you know of any other names given to sunglasses drop us an email and we'll add yours to our list.