The Light Behind Oliver Peoples

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Larry Leight sought a trade that would allow him his creativity as well as freedom, so he could surf and travel. Little did he realize that getting a degree as a certified optician would lead him on his successful journey of becoming a leader in the eyewear industry. We caught up with the free- spirited businessman to hear how he made his dream a reality, and why he won’t ever stop designing iconic frames.

Oliver Peoples began in 1986, when opticians Larry and Dennis Leight embarked upon a shared vision—they opened their first optical boutique on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California. The brothers purchased an estate collection of vintage American-made eyewear, including filigreed rimless and metal frames, and clip-on metal sunglasses produced by iconic companies such as Bausch & Lomb and American Optical. This was the jackpot for the Leight’s, given their passion for 1940s -1960s eyewear. The lot included a receipt signed with the name “Oliver People,” who was deemed to be the original owner or distributor. It was then that the brothers used his name for what would become one of the most popular brands of opticals to date.

One of the most unique aspects of Olive Peoples is how Leight integrates the Southern California lifestyle-elements of fashion, film, art, sport, and the Los Angeles landscape, into the brand’s DNA. Oliver Peoples has aligned with specific brands that complement its image and also share a love and understanding for each other’s design and vision. The first collaboration was with Robert Evans, one of the most successful producers in Hollywood for the last 50 years. He collaborated on the 20-Year Anniversary limited edition frame, as well as the creation of the first Oliver Peoples short film, “Mind Games.”

The second collaboration was with actress Zooey Deschanel. This Hollywood starlet is also a fashion icon and musician, making her the perfect collaboration candidate to create an eponymous frame. The campaign also entailed a feature film, “Catch A Tuesday.” For the 2010 season, Balmain collaborated with Oliver Peoples on the creation of its first eyewear design reflecting the brand’s edginess and aesthetics by designer Christophe Decarnin on the catwalk. The fourth collaboration was with Nom De Guerre; a Manhattan retail store and apparel brand that combines basic and diverse influences from art, fashion and various New York subcultures.

Leight’s handcrafted designs and unique philosophy have altered the course of eyewear and influenced designers around the globe. His designs have been featured on the faces of top models and celebrities in several of the most notable fashion magazines globally. However, Leight wants his brand to not only appeal to famous people but to ordinary individuals as well. He states, “The best part about the whole adventure is that the customer we appeal to is exactly who I have always had in mind.” Additionally, Leight has collaborated on the launch of Prada, MiuMiu, Jil Sander, Helmut Lang, and Vera Wang’s eyewear brands. Oliver People prides itself on its exclusivity and discretion, which separates the brand from other designer eyewear brands. According to Leight, there is no logo on the outside of the frame simply because the design and discoverability attracts people to the brand. Another exclusive aspect of Oliver Peoples is the VFX sunglass lens; its own technologically advanced polarized and gradient photo chromic mineral glass lenses available in custom colors.

In 1994, Oliver Peoples entered a licensing agreement with notable British clothing designer Sir Paul Smith to design Paul Smith Spectacles. The collection melds design details synonymous with Sir Paul Smith along with the experience and craftsmanship of Oliver Peoples. Leight developed a multi-layer color lamination process that altered the direction of the eyewear industry and popularized the colored plastic frame that remains relevant today.

In 2003, Oliver Peoples launched Mosley Tribes, a unisex sunglass brand brought to you by the same design and marketing team as Oliver Peoples. This line is the perfect pairing of Oliver Peoples aesthetics with visionaries from active lifestyle and sports worlds. Mosley is an expression of euphoric feeling and Tribes encompasses groups of individuals who are united as one.

Last year Leight was inspired by his personal archive and wholesale collection of original Oliver People designs, and launched the Original Vintage Circa 1987. Original 1950s vintage tinted glasses in rare shades were made available in select stores. Based on the popularity of these original designs, Oliver Peoples re-released a limited number of three of the most iconic styles from the first wholesale collection. These styles include the OP-505, the first pair introduced in the 1986 debut collection, the OP-1955, a unique style known for its contrasting tortoise shell colors, and the O’Malley, named after former LA Dodgers’ owner Peter O’Malley. These were worn and made famous by Christian Bale in the classic cult film, “American Physco.” The collection was showcased in a photo shoot and short film at Jay Penske’s Dragon Books hilltop Bel Air gallery.

This year Oliver Peoples aligned with acclaimed photographer and aspiring director, Lisa Eisner, to create its 2011 campaign. “Rainbow House,” with real life couple Devendra Banhart and Rebecca Schwartz, focuses on intimacy and sexuality in an authentic, contemporary Southern California setting. Always pushing the envelope with his designs and collaborations, we can only wonder what Leight will bring to the table in 2012!

Oliver Peoples eyewear is sold in the most exclusive boutiques and department stores such as Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys New York, Fred Segal and Neiman Marcus.