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Oliver Peoples

Oliver Peoples is an American luxury eyewear brand established in 1986, and owned by Luxottica.[1] The brand is sold in Oliver Peoples boutiques, online, and in fashion boutiques and department stores throughout the world. Oliver Peoples eyewear is designed in Los Angeles, Italy, and Japan.[2]

Company type

Subsidiary of Luxottica

1986

,
United States

42 retail stores

Rocco Basilico (CEO)

Eyewear and Sunglasses

History[edit]

Oliver Peoples was founded by Kenny Schwartz, Larry Leight and his brother Dennis Leight in 1986.[3] Before they launched the company, Schwartz and Larry Leight worked as opticians. They would draw glasses on the celebrities in Vogue magazine.[4] In 1984, Leight designed a frame, later named "Identity,"[5] that was fabricated for pop artist Andy Warhol.[6] Warhol wore the glasses for an editorial spread published in the German magazine Männer Vogue in 1987.[7]


In 1986, while Schwartz and the Leight brothers were searching for eyewear brands to stock their new boutique in West Hollywood, California,[8] they purchased a bulk lot of American brand name frames in their original packaging for $5,000 at an auction in Connecticut.[9] While going through the inventory, a receipt was found naming the frames' original owner, Oliver Peoples. The brothers named the company after him.[3]


In 2006, Oakley acquired Oliver Peoples for $46.7 million.[10] In 2007, Oakley was purchased by eyewear giant Luxottica.[11] In 2016, Rocco Basilico became the CEO of Oliver Peoples. After his first year at the helm, Basilico earned himself a place on the famed Forbes' '30 Under 30' list.[12] To date, Basilico has helped increase Oliver Peoples' retail footprint from 14 to 42 global stores.[13]

In film, television and music[edit]

1991, Oliver Peoples is mentioned in Bret Easton Ellis' novel, American Psycho. The film adaptation, released in 2000, features Christian Bale in the iconic Oliver Peoples 'O'Malley' frames.[14] The same year, Julia Roberts wears 'M-4 Sun' frames in Dying Young.


1993, Whoopi Goldberg wears MP-2 in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. Also in 1993, Laura Dern wore Oliver Peoples glasses in Jurassic Park.[15]


1994, Anthony Edwards wears Oliver Peoples (full rim frames, later rimless) throughout his entire tenure on ER.


1997, Bruce Willis wears 'O'Malley Sun' in The Jackal.[16]


1999, Brad Pitt wears Oliver Peoples' styles in Fight Club.[17]


2004, Denzel Washington wears Oliver Peoples in Man on Fire.[18]


2005, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie wear Oliver Peoples in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.[19]


2013, James Spader wears Oliver Peoples in the NBC series The Blacklist.[20]


2017, Bono from U2 wears Oliver Peoples 'Row After Midnight' frames. [21]


2022, Kevin Costner wears Oliver Peoples in the television series, Yellowstone.[22]


2022, Theo James and Aubrey Plaza wear Oliver Peoples in the HBO series The White Lotus.[23]


2023, Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy wears Oliver Peoples in the HBO series Succession.[24]

Collaborations[edit]

In 1994, Oliver Peoples and Sir Elton John collaborated to create a series of frames with a portion of the proceeds going to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. This marked the first collaboration with the brand.[25]


In 2009, Oliver Peoples collaborated with actress Zooey Deschanel for a signature pair of sunglasses called "Zooey."[26]


In 2012, Oliver Peoples collaborated with the Peck estate to launch the Gregory Peck style inspired by Peck's character in the film, To Kill a Mockingbird.[27]


In 2013, Oliver Peoples collaborated with French women's brand, Isabel Marant.[28]


In 2015, Oliver Peoples collaborated with Rodarte.,[29] Public School.[30] and fragrance brand Byredo.[31]


In 2016, Oliver Peoples collaborated with the luxury fashion label established by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, The Row.[32]


In 2019, Oliver Peoples collaborate with the Grant estate to launch the Cary Grant style inspired by Grant's character in the film, North by Northwest.[33]


In 2020, Oliver Peoples collaborated with premium audio company, Master & Dynamic.[34]


In 2021, Oliver Peoples collaborated with Italian luxury brand, Brunello Cucinelli,[35] and fashion house, Frère.[36]


In 2023, Oliver Peoples collaborated with New York womenswear brand, Khaite.[37]

Boutiques[edit]

As of 2022, the brand has 42 stores in North America, Europe, and Asia.[13]

Warby Parker

Ray-Ban