There are a ton of options to choose from when it comes to sunglasses, and so many manufacturers are making them overseas. So, we set out to find all of the pairs that are made right here in the USA. Check out our complete list of USA-made sunglasses with details on each one, the factors that should go into your research, and where the biggest sunglasses manufacturers are actually made.
Complete List of Sunglasses Brands Made in the USA
American Optical has been making spectacles in the U.S. for over 100 years. The Original Pilot Sunglasses are very popular with military pilots and have been for over 50 years. These glasses have a silver alloy frame, polished True Color® glass lens (comes in grey or green), and 100% UV protection. The Original Pilot sunglasses are designed to be both stylish and sturdy – these frames don’t break or scratch easily.
Randolph Engineering was started in 1973 by a couple of American immigrants and they make sunglasses that are engineered to military standards. Today, they are based in Randolph, MA (hence the name) and offer a lot of different sunglass styles for both men and women. Having roots in the military, naturally, Randolph has a lot of Aviator styles, but not just your traditional Aviator frames. They have over 20 groups of styles, each with over a dozen different finish options and colors to choose from. Their sunglasses are made to be durable too.
The Smith Director Elite sunglasses are very popular among active individuals and law enforcement as they use lenses and frames that are constructed with an impact-resistant material that reduces the risk of scratches and breaks. These sunglasses also offer 100% UV protection. They are very lightweight, which may be counterintuitive to being highly durable, but they have held up well to many impact tests. You can also get the darker, polarized version of these sunglasses for just a few dollars more.
Shwood is the original wooden sunglasses, made in Portland, Oregon. Canby is one of their flagship models and continues to be one of their most popular. These sunglasses are designed to have a great fit on several face sizes and shapes, coming in the classic wayfarer shape. They are made to be stylish as well – the frames are made with Acetate wood – a premium hardwood that is really tough and has a smooth finish. The lenses are polarized and have 100% UV protection. Ideal for casual wear, pair these with a nice American-made watch and you’ll be all set.
Liquid Eyewear polarized sunglasses are made for really active individuals who need a pair of shades while they are on the tennis court, golf course, ski slope, or wherever else. Most of their lenses have 100% UV protection and 13% light transmission while still maintaining color clarity. The fit is made to work for several face shapes and remain sturdy – they will stay on your face when you’re sweating and running around.
Gatorz makes polarized sunglasses constructed with TruRay optics, which is an advanced filtering technology to help improve perception and clarity and reduce glare. Along with being polarized, the lenses also have 100% UV protection and an anti-scratch coating. The frame is made of 7075 Billet Aircraft Aluminum right here in the U.S., designed to withstand harsh conditions. Ideal for active people.
GG Optix assembles their sunglasses in the USA (unfortunately, using some imported materials). All of their shades are polarized and are pretty reasonably priced as well. GG Optix has style options for men and women.
Arc-Iris is another wood sunglasses manufacturer. They source most of their raw materials from U.S. suppliers, although their non-Rx lenses are imported. As I talk about in the video below, there are close to zero standard OEM lens manufacturers in the U.S. (based on our research), so it’s tough to find brands that are 100% made in the USA with their lenses.
Charlie-V makes casual, fashionable sunglasses and has a wide variety of styles. Pretty much all their materials are U.S. sourced except for their non-Rx lenses, which I mentioned supply chain issues with earlier.
Mike’s YouTube Video on American Made Sunglasses
How To Find Sunglasses Made in the USA
Besides sharing our picks for American made sunglasses, we want to guide you to shop wisely. Let’s explore the sunglasses industry—from material sources to decoding labels and finding top-tier shades crafted in the USA. First, let’s break down what “made in the USA” truly means and how to understand it.
What Does “Made in the USA” Mean?
You may have noticed the term “made in the USA” on your sunglasses label and wondered what that means. So, let’s define this phrase first before we dig into how to find US-made sunglasses.
It is a label protected by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and can only be used if the product is “all or virtually all” made in the United States. In other words, everything from the materials used to the manufacturing process must be sourced from and based in the USA.
However, the FTC does not do the best job policing how the “made in the USA” label is being used, so it will be worth your time to do additional research. Check out our complete “made in the USA” labeling guide to learn more about this subject.
Materials
Researching what materials are used in sunglasses is a great way to find sunglasses made in the USA. Knowing where the materials come from should help give you an idea of whether they have been imported or produced locally.
Sunglass frames are commonly made from colored plastic or metal, and the lenses are made from glass or plastic.
Plastic
Most sunglass frames and lenses are made from plastic because it is cheaper and can offer more variety. The USA is the world’s third largest manufacturer of plastic, so there is a good chance that those plastic sunglasses you are eyeing might be made in the USA. However, since the USA produces just 20% of the world’s plastic, more often than not, especially with cheaper products, you may run into sunglasses made in China. So, it’s worth double-checking the country of origin for the plastic used.
Metal
The common metal types found in sunglasses are nickel and stainless steel. While the USA does manufacture nickel, there is only one nickel mine in the country, so chances are that nickel sunglasses probably use imported nickel.
On the other hand, the USA is a significant steel manufacturer, ranking fourth in the world. But still, China is the global leader in this material, so you’re likely to run into steel made abroad. However, if you’re after quality, you should look for US-made steel, as it is three times stronger than Chinese-made steel.
Glass
China tops the leaderboard in terms of glass production as well. But the USA doesn’t fall too far behind, coming in third and producing around 6.5% of the world’s glass. 6.5% is not considerable, so finding US-made glassware can be challenging.
Labeling
Researching the materials of sunglasses can only get you so far. You have to look at the label as well.
Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 of the US Code states that all imported products must be labeled with the country of origin. This legislation makes it much easier to find sunglasses made in the USA. Therefore, when looking for sunglasses made in the USA, keep an eye out for the FTC-protected “made in the USA” label.
However, as already mentioned, the FTC does not do the best job of policing the usage of the protected “made in the USA” label. There is no pre-approval process, and it is up to the individual companies to determine whether their product meets the requirements to use the label, which means that many companies either deliberately or purposefully bend the truth. Ultimately, it is up to the consumers to report any false usage of the product.
You should also pay attention to the particular vocabulary used in the labels. For example, words like “manufactured” or “designed” may be used to infer that a product is made in the USA, but they mean only a part of the manufacturing process took place in the States. Also, watch out for labels like “made in America,” as this could mean the product could have been made in Canada or Mexico.
You should be wary about the American flag sticker on a label. Just because a product has an American flag does not mean that the product and materials are made in the USA. You need to do extra research to be sure.
Other Tips
Here are some additional tips to help you search for American made sunglasses.
Check Their Website
You can visit the brand’s website to learn more about its manufacturing process. Many businesses making their products in the USA will not be shy about advertising that. On the other hand, if you can’t find the country of origin listed on the website, assume that the sunglasses are made elsewhere. Companies are not required to label their products with the country of origin on their online or promotional materials, so the silence speaks volumes in this case.
Go Online Shopping
Online shopping websites like Amazon often list the country of origin on the product page, so look out for that. If you can’t find that information, another place to check is the FAQ page.
Call The Company
If you cannot find the information on their website, you’ll have to use the old-fashioned method of calling them and asking. A representative should be able to answer your questions.
Sunglasses Brands Not Made in the USA
Here are notable popular brands not made in the USA. We’ll keep updating this list as we find more.
- Oakley: Made overseas.
- Costa Del Mar: Some hand-assembled in the US, but with globally-sourced parts.
- Ray-Ban: Italian company, made overseas.
