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- July 23 - Polarized Sunglasses
July 23 - Polarized Sunglasses
David Shuck
July 23, 2024
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/ Five Plus One /
Polarized Sunglasses
I’m writing this edition of Five Plus One during a heatwave that would be causing some serious eyestrain if it wasn’t for polarized lenses. They’re a game changer, especially if you spend a lot of time driving or in the great outdoors.
Polarized filters only let light pass through in a single direction. For sunglasses, this means a lot less glare and bright spots while still being able to see almost everything as normal. This makes polarization an invaluable tool for anyone in environments where they can’t control the light. When the sun is blaring, polarization stops the glaring.
Despite being nearly century-old tech, polarized lenses are still a gold standard in the eyewear industry today. This installment. of Five Plus One is here to show you some great product from quality makers that pair these useful lenses with attractive frames.
When it comes to quality eyewear, you can’t go wrong with Randolph Engineering. They’ve been producing eyewear for the US Military since 1977, with each pair made in Massachusetts to rigorous military specifications requiring over 200 steps over a 6-week period.
Randolph’s calling card is its Aviator, seen here in Polarized Cobalt/Matte Chrome. Known in the industry as‘The Tank’, Randolph’s Aviator is as hardy as it is handsome, battle-tested over 45 years with a silhouette perfect for pilots and pedestrians alike. This chrome edition comes fitted with high-performance polarized lenses with a subtle blue iridescent mirror finish, and djustable cushioned silicon nose pads for a customized fit. All components are treated with protective coatings, further reinforcing the robust profile of these formidable sunnies.
Available for $329 from STAG Provisions.
When it comes to polarized lenses, Shinzo Tamura is one of the first names on our minds. The Japanese brand is owned and operated by Shinzo Tamura, the third-generation president of TALEX, a Japanese manufacturer that exclusively makes polarized sunglass lenses. Talex revolutionized the eyewear industry in 1970 by producing the first fully balanced polarized lens, which didn’t sacrifice the natural colors, brightness, or contrast lost with previous polarized lenses
Naturally, all Shinzo Tamura shades come with TALEX lenses, including these rather attractive Tennoji Copper Sunglasses. They’re made in Japan with a nylon frame in the classic amber brown tone that’s dominated the eyewear industry for decades, balancing a timeless aesthetic with the top-class performance of polarized TALEX lenses.
Available for $210 from Shinzo Tamura.
For something on the techier side, look no further than Oakley‘s Wire Tap 2.0 in Pewter. The American company offers dynamic eyewear backed up by decades of athlete-guided research and technological developments.
With a charming 90s sports/aesthetic, the Wire Tap 2.0 is made with C-5™ metal, a super lightweight yet robust titanium alloy. The tonal lenses feature Oakley’s proprietary Prizm™ Lens Technology which enhances color and detail. The Unobtainium® (no, not the fictional material from Avatar) earsocks will keep these shades rooted to your dome, while the angular, wrap-around silhouette makes you look truly ready to tap someone’s phone.
Available for $275 from HAVEN.
Raen is part of a new wave of optics brands that have distilled the craft into simple yet effective processes, allowing super high-quality glasses to be had at reasonable prices.
Born in California, Raen’s sunglasses channel SoCal cool and the Remmy is a testament to that. Inspired by vintage round-framed sunglasses that dominated the West Coast in the mid-20th century, the Remmy is made with an acetate frame, seen here in a grey colorway with contrasting brown arms. Five-barrel hinges and wire-core arms ensure a robust frame, while polarized brown CR-39 lenses manufactured by Carl Zeiss mean you’ll be free from pesky glare while you’re chillin’ in the bay.
Available for $175 from STAG Provisions.
The Kinney is Garrett Leight‘s calling card, inspired by the iconic Ray Ban Wayfarer tweaked with a keyhole nose bridge and slimmer wire-core arms.
Handmade from cured cellulose acetate, the Kinney has a full steel core wire and five-barrel hinges for strength and durability. This unique, partially translucent ‘champagne’ frame is fitted with polarized Carl Zeiss blue smoke glass lenses that provide 100% UV protection.
Garrett Leight specs demand a heftier price tag than some of its competitors, but the brand is building a small empire with onsite labs in its flagship stores, which offer lens cutting and fitting within an hour. If you’re in California, Toronto, or New York, you can check this out for yourself.
Available for $445 from STAG Provisions.
At first glance, these Shwood Eugene Wood Sunglasses look like your standard, Clubmaster-centric scenario, but they’re in fact made from hardwood! Laminated with carbon fiber, Shwood’s premium-grade hardwood frames offer the strength of synthetic materials but with the natural beauty of wood.
Suitable for a wide range of face shapes, the Shwood Eugene accentuates the browline with the hardwood but keeps things sleek with its wire rim lower. It’s made with spring hinges from German specialist, OBE, and comes with polarized CR-39 lenses with 100% UVA/UVB protection.
Each pair of Shwood Eugenes comes with a custom travel case made from eco-friendly chipboard, echoing the natural DNA of its frame materials.
Available for $250 from Shwood.
/ In Partnership with Revolvr /
The summer heat will still be with us for another month and Revolvr is here to help. Browse their ample collection of summer staples including Shwood sunglasses, Filson shirts, and Iron & Resin tees.
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/ New Releases /
Oak Street Bootmakers has dropped two of their boot styles – Lakeshore & Cap Toe — in an incredible aged bark chieftain leather from Milwaukee’s Seidel Tanning Corp, who have been producing leather in their tannery since WWII. Strictly limited, both pairs of boots are a serious piece of kit.
Aged Bark Chieftain is saturated with oils in the drum and then finished with oils and waxes that give it a distinctive finish. Almost suede-like in its nap, this roughout leather has a flesh-out finish that is guaranteed to develop a distinctive patina as they’re worn. On the literal flipside, the grain boasts a nubuck-esque matte finish. Both sides are a showcase of the natural characteristics of top-tier leather.
Each pair in this drop is fitted with a Dainite outsole for superior traction, and made with Goodyear welt construction that allows them to be re-soled whenever necessary.
Both pairs are available exclusively at Oak Street Bootmakers for $498.
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In a world with no shortage of shirts, it’s hard to make something with a silhouette that truly sticks out. Though, with its distinctive shark fin collar, the Mister Freedom Watertown Shirt does just that—quite literally.
The LA-based brand —which has been designing vintage-inspired garments since 2003 — has turned to mid-century France for its latest short-sleeve number. An original Mister Freedom pattern, the Watertown shirt is inspired by French casual summer shirts of the 1950s but takes heavy cues from the cult favorite, Bleu de Travail—french workwear. Made in Japan, this Avengers-esque crossover of workwear and sportswear combines the lesser-seen shark fin collar with 6.5 oz. 15% linen and 85% cotton blend chambray, an essential workwear fabric. And to give it that real Blue de Travail feel, it’s woven with a dark indigo warp and a natural weft.
Available at Franklin and Poe for $250.
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We see The Rite Stuff opens up pre-orders, we report on it. Plain and simple. When Bryan comes out with a product, you can bet it has been thoroughly researched and formulated to be just Rite.
The Rite Stuff is known for its historical influences and traditional construction methods, and the Heavyweight 9 oz. Tee sticks closely to that mantra. Hefty without being cumbersome, the 9 oz. cotton is woven into t-shirts using loopwheel knitting machines of yesteryear, resulting in a tubular t-shirt with a flattering fit, soft hand feel, and great texture.
Available in grey and ecru, each 9 oz. Loopwheel Tee from The Rite Stuff is made in the loopwheeling mecca that is Wakayama, Japan, and comes finished with American made neck label and hang tags.
Available for $84 from The Rite Stuff.
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Momotaro delivers another gorgeous pair of denim with the 0605-40 Natural Tapered 14.7oz Legacy Blue. Momotaro is worth the hype, they offer beautifully constructed jeans that age like a dream, and last a long time if properly cared for.
Don’t believe the hype? Look at the details on these. For starters, they’re actually roomy up top with just the right amount of taper through the leg to prevent an excess of fabric at the hem. Secondly, this mid-weight 14.7oz Japanese Legacy Blue denim is woven from 100% Zimbabwe cotton and formulated to fade bright blue with all the right amount of vintage-inspired texture in areas of wear. If you’re looking to leave a legacy in our Fade Friday column, this could be a good place to start.
Still not sold? They’re a classic 5-pocket style with contrast stitching throughout, rivet reinforcements, metal button fly, chain stitched hem and waistband, indigo-dyed canvas yoke liner (where else can you find that?), bar tack reinforcements, Momotaro leather patch, and a signature peach toned selvedge ID that pays homage to the folklore behind the brand’s name.
Available for $315 from Division Road.
Want to learn more about Momotaro and other Japanese denim brands? Check out Raw Japanese Denim: A Beginner’s Guide to Japan’s Biggest Labels
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