The Classicist: Made in the Shade - Porsche Design Heritage Collection

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
Aug 16th 2010 at 9:01AM

Unlike some collections whose famous names reflect only lucrative licensing deals, products bearing the Porsche Design label have a pedigree that's strongly linked to the famed sports car marque. The Porsche Design Studio was established in 1972 by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, designer of the iconic Porsche 911 and grandson of the founder of the world-renowned German automaker. Since then Porsche Design has become synonymous with innovative luxury products boasting immaculate craftsmanship, state of the art technology and the absolute highest quality materials, all adhering to the same clear functionality of form. While the product line ranges from cell phones to superyachts these days, sunglasses, one of the first items produced and one with the strongest ties to driving, remain the most appealing.

During the '70s and '80s the coveted sunglasses were the shades of choice for the rich and famous who prized elegant, sporty style. Now Porsche Design Eyewear has come out with a new "Heritage Collection" of aviators celebrating this colorful history. Often copied by others, they remind us that the originals haven't been bettered. The new collection is not just a re-issue of the most notable sunglass designs however, but also an update for the 21st century. Iconic styles that went out of production years ago are back with major upgrades in materials with super lightweight, anti-corrosive titanium frames and lightweight shatter-proof polycarbonate lenses with a multi-layered premium anti-reflective coating. Priced from $250–$409, there are four classic styles in the collection in various color combinations, all variations on the iconic aviator shape and all now available from haute online eyewear boutique Eyegoodies.

Gallery: Porsche Design Heritage Collection

Leading the pack is the Porsche Design P'8478 Aviator (above) for $409. Originally Launched in 1978, they were known as the "Exklusivbrille" ("the exclusive") and became an instant symbol of wealth and prestige – the perfect accessory to a Porsche 911. The P'8478 features two sets of interchangeable, unbreakable polycarbonate lenses, one mirrored and one solid. The Porsche Design P'8480 was a groundbreaking piece when it was released in 1980. The amazing mechanism allows it to quickly fold to a mere 6 x 6 cm, and it comes in a genuine leather pouch, also for $409. Not as tear dropped nor as big or bold as the P'8478, the Porsche Design P'8433 sunglasses have a contemporary flair. They also comes with the interchangeable lenses for $270. And the Porsche Design P'8510 is a unisex aviator with a frame constructed of high quality stainless steel with a uniquely shaped bridge for $252.

Tags: aviator, aviator sunglasses, aviators, car design, design, Eyegoodies, Eyewear, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, German design, Germany, leather, Porsche 911, Porsche Design, sports car, sunglasses, titanium