Designer: Oliver Goldsmith
Written by chameleonfridays on July 6th, 2008The respected glasses design company was founded in 1926 by Philip Oliver Goldsmith, a salesman for a small optical firm and has remained a family run business since.
In 1935 Charles Goldsmith entered the firm and had the vision to make glasses and more importantly sunglasses a fashion item. Previously, sunglasses were normal spectacles with tinted lenses, Charles made sunglasses a product of their own. The new “sunspecs” sold out within their first week of hitting the stores of Fortnum & Mason.
Not only were they the first company to make ’sunspecs’, they went on to pioneer ‘winter sunglasses’ and were the first glasses to gain royal endorsement.
By the time the Sixties arrived a new generation of Goldsmiths had taken control. Andrew Oliver Goldsmith and his brother Ray took their influences from the emerging social scene and as a result had a huge celebrity following. All of the iconic images of that time involved OG glasses ranging from Michael Caine, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, the brand endorsement was huge.
Having had such huge success, the brand became synonymous with the 60’s and fell out of favour with the fashion pack, ceasing production in 1985.
Today Claire Goldmith, the great grand-daughter of originator Phillip Oliver, heads the company having ‘felt the time was right to bring back the individual style and quality that epitomised this iconic brand’. Having re-launched in 2005, the brand has successful regained it’s status as THE brand for the stylish customer. Notably, they provide a bespoke sunglasses service fitting frames to faces for the perfect fit, this is currently available exclusively through London boutique Matches.
