Almost everyone owns at least one pair of sunglasses. They are stylish and they offer protection from the sun’s gaze, it’s a win-win! But are there any sunglasses manufacturers that produce their products in the US? Well, that’s what I’ll be looking at in this article.
Which Brands Sell Sunglasses Made in the USA? (The Short Answer)
There are actually a few companies that manufacture sunglasses in the USA. They are American Optical, Arc Iris, Randolph, Liquid Eyewear, Gatorz, Lowercase, and Charlie V.
American Made Sunglasses (I Investigated…Here’s What I Found)
Now that we have our American sunglasses manufacturers, let’s take a look at the companies behind the brands.
American Optical
American Optical has been in business since 1833. This company is huge in the sunglasses world having provided sunglasses for presidents, pilots, and even NASA space crews. Its products are highly sought after due to their style and durability.
With it being such a large company, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it carries out its manufacturing overseas, but it actually carries out the majority of its manufacturing in the US.
All of American Optical’s frames are handcrafted at its facility located in Illinois. But it also looks like the company has several other facilities dotted around the US. I wasn’t able to find exactly where the company produces its lenses, but it looks like they are also made in the US as I came across numerous articles stating that American Optical’s manufacturing is all carried out in the US.
As for its sunglasses, as you can imagine, American Optical has lots of different options when it comes to sunglasses. Here’s a link to the company’s product page. For those wanting to look at some specific models, here are a few for you to check out.
Arc Iris
Arc Iris is a proud American business that was founded in 2012. While it isn’t as large as some of the other companies on this list, Arc Iris is quickly growing thanks to its high-quality handmade sunglasses.
Arc Iris uses the highest quality materials from A+ grade suppliers ensuring that its products are made to the highest possible standard.100% of its frames are made in the US by American employees. Its manufacturing facility is located in Utopia, Texas. That said, it makes use of Zeiss lenses. These are primarily made in Germany. So while the frames are American-made, it looks like some of its lenses are made in Germany.
For those wanting to take a look at some of Arc Iris’ products, I’ve got you covered. Here are a few options for you to check out.
Randolph
Randolph was founded in 1973 in Randolph, Massachusetts. It is a proud American brand and its sunglasses are handcrafted in the US. It has manufactured its sunglasses in the US since its inception and the company has no plans of moving its manufacturing overseas anytime soon.
Randolph’s frames are built to last a lifetime. Each frame is handcrafted and it takes over 6 weeks to make. Each frame goes through 200 individual steps ensuring that they are built to the highest possible standard.
As for its lenses, they were developed with military aviation in mind thus ensuring that they are built to be very effective even in the most hostile of sun conditions. Its lenses are also made in Randolph, Massachusetts.
Randolph has 9 different collections. Instead of linking to a few of its sunglasses, here are some links to each of its sunglasses collections.
- Women’s Best Sellers
- Men’s Best Sellers
- Aviator Best Sellers
- Pilot Sunglasses
- Military Collection
- Blue Lens Sunglasses
- Cobalt Collection
- Mirrored Sunglasses
- Round Sunglasses
Liquid Eyewear
Liquid Eyewear was founded in 2001 in San Diego, California. It is becoming an increasingly popular brand due to the company’s style and approach to sunglasses. All of Liquid Eyewear’s manufacturing is carried out at its facility located in Yuma, Arizona.
The company goes through each of the steps involved in making a pair of Liquid Eyewear sunglasses on its website. This goes to show just how much work goes into producing its products.
If you are looking to purchase a pair of Liquid Eyewear then you won’t be able to get a pair from its official website. Here’s a link to the company’s sunglasses page, where you can look at the different options it has. As for purchasing a pair, you’ll need to go on Amazon and buy them from there. Amazon is the only official place where you can buy Liquid Eyewear online.
Gatorz
Much like Liquid Eyewear, Gatorz also manufactures its products in Yuma, Arizona. The company was founded in San Diego, California in 1989. Gatorz sunglasses are built to such a high standard that they come with a lifetime frame warranty on every pair.
As mentioned, it manufactures its products in Yuma, Arizona. Each product is hand-crafted and proudly American. Its products are built to military standards using aerospace-grade materials for maximum durability.
As for sunglasses, Gatorz has an extensive range of products. Here’s a link to its lifestyle sunglasses page. For those looking for a little more bang for their buck, Gatorz Marauder protective glasses are one of its most popular products.
Lowercase
Having only been established in 2016, Lowercase is a fairly new company, but this doesn’t stop it from being a highly sought-after brand. Its sunglasses are very well known in various parts of the US and its popularity is constantly growing.
Its products are made in Brooklyn, New York. Each of its products is made here. And you can even pop into its facility and watch the magic happen. Each of its sunglasses goes through a 30-step process designed to create the highest quality sunglasses possible.
Lowercase is also hyper-focused on being as eco-friendly as possible. The company works using sustainable business practices to minimize its waste output and keep its carbon footprint as low as possible, this makes it a great choice for those eco-conscious people out there.
For those wanting to take a look at some of Lowercase’s sunglasses, here’s a link to the company’s page where you can browse through its various collections of sunglasses. I haven’t highlighted any particular sunglasses for this entry as the company is constantly changing and adding new ranges for its customers to choose from.
Charlie V
Finishing off this section we have Charlie V. This company is a small operation based in Michigan. All of its products are made in the US and each pair of sunglasses comes with a 2-year warranty.
Its sunglasses are protective and very stylish, which makes them very popular among those seeking American-made sunglasses. Not only can you choose from its impressive range on its website, but you can also design your own pair of Charlie V sunglasses. Each of its sunglasses can be modified and adapted to suit your needs, meaning that you can purchase a one-of-a-kind pair of sunglasses.
For those wanting to take a look at some of Charlie V’s sunglasses, check these out.
Honorable Mentions
I came across one company that does manufacture some of its products in the US, but I couldn’t narrow down which specific sunglasses are made in the US. I also found another company that does manufacture some parts in the US, but it also imports parts from China and other countries. Here’s what I found.
Smith Optics
Smith Optics dates back to 1965. It is based in Portland Oregon and its sunglasses are highly sought after due to their quality. Smith Optics makes more than just sunglasses. The company manufactures goggles for skiing and helmets for various sporting activities such as biking.
While it is true that Smith Optics carries out some of its manufacturing in the US, this only applies to its goggles and some of its eyewear. I wasn’t able to find which specific eyewear lines are made in the US hence why it receives an honorable mention.
For those wanting to take a look at some of Smith Optics’ sunglasses for themselves, here’s a link to its sunglasses page.
Shwood Eyewear
Shwood Eyewear was founded in 2009 and it is based in Portland, Oregon. It is a very well-known brand and its popularity only seems to be increasing as time goes on. When I initially saw the brand, I mistook it as a purely US-based operation. However, upon closer inspection, this isn’t actually the case.
The company is very clear regarding its manufacturing, it looks like the confusion seems to be coming from third-party websites and not Shwood Eyewear itself. Its manufacturing process starts and ends at its headquarters in Portland, Oregon. However, its hinges are crafted in Germany, its cellulose acetate comes from Italy, and the majority of its optics and its acetate frames are produced in China. Here’s a link so you can take a look for yourself.
