Run a quick search on the most popular trends in sunglasses right now and you are likely to see posts suggesting that aviators are making a comeback. They are trendy. But have they ever gone out of style? Not really. Plastic aviators are always in style. They have been for decades.
Aviators are so named because they were originally designed for pilots who struggled to see clearly due to sun glare. Several years after being introduced to the U.S. military, aviators were released to the general public. Manufacturers haven't looked back since. Once consumers got their hands on aviators, they sold like hotcakes.
We have a few ideas about why that could be:
1. People Love Nostalgia
As a distributor of wholesale fashion sunglasses, we have noticed that nostalgia plays a role in eyewear trends. People like older things. They like vintage fashion. As much as new and bold styles appeal to consumers, so many of them don't last long. But what was in fashion fifty years ago is still attractive due to the nostalgia factor.
Incidentally, the love for nostalgia in fashion can be seen elsewhere. For instance, the whole steampunk movement combines modern-ish technology with 19th century fashion and industrial machinery.
2. Cultural Relevance
Due to the aviator's classic design, it has been a popular choice in films, television, and other forms of media. That gives the style cultural relevance. To so many people looking for a new pair of shades, cultural relevance means something. They are not ashamed to associate themselves with the cultural references or icons that are important to them.
Military and aviation fans are the prime target of the Top Gun franchise. Guess what kinds of sunglasses the main characters wore? Classic aviators. Fans of the films are likely to consider aviators when they need new sunglasses.
3. Practical Versatility
Some styles of sunglasses are so unique that the fashion conscious need to be careful. Playing golf with a pair of bright pink cat eyes just doesn't work for the fashion conscious. Likewise, a pair of wraparound sports sunglasses are not the type of shades one would wear to a red-carpet premiere. Classic aviators are different.
The aviator shape and style works with just about anything. There are very few practical limitations. Bikers wear aviators with or without helmets. Anglers wear them on the water, golfers wear them on the course, even car enthusiasts have been known to don a pair of aviators before taking a cruise in a favorite roadster.
Aviators are also versatile from a designer's point of view. Mirrored lenses go hand-in-hand with the aviator style. But colored lenses work just as well. Everything from rose to light blue and amber work without upsetting the classic style. Even larger frames are not a problem for the aviator look.
4. Consumer Comfort
Finally, there is a certain portion of the buying public that isn't always about change. In fact, they would rather stick with what they know. Aviators offer a sense of consumer comfort because they have been in style for so long. People know they can't go wrong with them.
We have been in the wholesale sunglasses business for years. We have seen plenty of styles come and go. We've seen an endless number of lens colors, frame shapes, and innovation gimmicks designed to sell more product. But through it all, classic aviators have stood their ground.
Take a look at our selection of aviators before you place your next order. We offer high quality sunglasses at wholesale prices, sunglasses sure to appeal to your retail customers.