Inked Mag Staff
June 24th, 2020
Grab Your Shades, It’s National Sunglasses Day
Show your love for stylish eye protection with ink
Sunglasses are an essential accessory for all seasons, especially in the summer. Sunglasses not only reduce discomfort against bright rays, they help to protect the eyes from damage by blocking out harmful UV rays. The first sunglasses were created by the Inuit in prehistoric times, using carved ivory with small slits. Some cultures, including the Roman Empire and 12th century China, made glasses by cutting precious gemstones or crystals, which protected their eyes from glare. Modern sunglasses were created by Crookes Lenses in 1913 by adding cerium to the glass to block ultraviolet light. Sunglasses became popular with the mainstream during the 1920s, largely thanks to movie stars of the time. According to a study by “Life Magazine,” it was estimated that 20 million sunglasses were sold in the United States in 1937 and in that same year, polarizing lenses became available for purchase.
Today, sunglasses are the most mainstream accessory you can wear on your face and now it’s possible to get them with a prescription. Who knows, maybe some day all of our sunglasses will become smart and we’ll be using them for navigation, reading or watching our favorite TV shows. Until that day comes, we’re all on board for celebrating National Sunglasses Day on June 27th. Take a look at some of our favorite sunglasses tattoos in the gallery below, then let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments section on social media.
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