Persol

Italian brand Persol have been making high quality eyewear for nearly a century.

Launced back in 1917 by the Italian designer Giuseppe Ratti, the name is derived from the Italian phrase Per Il Sole, which looseley translates as For The Sun.

Initially Persol specialised in eyewear for Pilots and Racing drivers, with the annual Mille Miglia race across Italy a focus of their work.

They established a strong reputation within this sector, and by the 1960's they decided to target the fashion sector with their range of Persol Sunglasses.

This saw their eyewear sold and distributed within the United States for their first time, where they caught the attention of legendary actor Steve McQueen who regularly wore them both on and off screen.

This patronage of their eyewear by a screen legend was an invaluable marketing coup for the brand and helped propell them into the big time.