National Sunglasses Day 😎

Overview

National Sunglasses Day, observed annually on June 27th, is a commemorative day dedicated to celebrating the importance of sunglasses for both eye protection and style. It encourages people to wear their favorite shades, learn about the benefits of UV-blocking lenses, and recognize sunglasses as a vital accessory for healthy vision and fashion.

Origin and story

Ancient Inuit people created the first 'sunglasses' from flattened walrus ivory, with thin slits to block sun glare.

The first mass-produced sunglasses were sold by Sam Foster on the boardwalks of Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1929.

Quick facts

• DateJune 27
• TypeCultural / community observance
• Great forFriends, Families, Classrooms, Teams

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Ways to celebrate

Sunglasses started as Arctic survival gear roughly 2,000 years before they became a beach-boardwalk fashion accessory.

Trace them to Inuit snow goggles

Inuit peoples carved "sun goggles" from driftwood, bone, walrus ivory, or caribou antler, forming a strip with thin slits worn across the eyes to block blinding glare off snow — the narrow slits even had the side effect of sharpening the wearer's vision by focusing eyesight.

Know how they became mass-market fashion

Sam Foster began mass-producing celluloid sunglasses in 1929, selling them from a Woolworth's on the Atlantic City boardwalk under the name Foster Grant — by 1937, roughly 20 million pairs were being sold annually in the U.S., though only about a quarter of wearers used them for actual eye protection.

Read the fuller history

Helpful resources:

• When Were Sunglasses Invented? (Vision Center)

Did you know?

By 1938, Life magazine was already reporting that wearing sunglasses on city streets had become a fashion "fad," a shift from purely functional Arctic eyewear to a style statement in under a decade.

Fun facts

• Ancient Inuit people created the first 'sunglasses' from flattened walrus ivory, with thin slits to block sun glare.
• The first mass-produced sunglasses were sold by Sam Foster on the boardwalks of Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1929.
• Wearing sunglasses that block 99-100% of UVA and UVB rays can significantly reduce the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye conditions.

Sources and attribution

When Were Sunglasses Invented? (Vision Center)

External links may lead to third-party websites.

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FAQ

When is National Sunglasses Day?

It is observed on June 27 each year.

What is National Sunglasses Day?

National Sunglasses Day, observed annually on June 27th, is a commemorative day dedicated to celebrating the importance of sunglasses for both eye protection and style. It encourages people to wear their favorite shades, learn about the benefits of UV-blocking lenses, and recognize sunglasses as a vital accessory for healthy vision and fashion.

How do people celebrate National Sunglasses Day?

Put on a pair of sunglasses and consider their Arctic origin — Inuit peoples carved 'sun goggles' from bone and ivory roughly 2,000 years before Sam Foster mass-produced them as a beach fashion item in 1929.

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