Oakley, the forward-thinking eyewear and sportswear brand, has reached its 50th anniversary.
To celebrate this milestone, it opened the doors of its headquarters in Foothill Ranch, California, and for five days, visitors could explore a universe of storytelling, sensory installations, and designs related to the brand's history and future.
The brand part of EssilorLuxottica Group welcomed personalities, athletes, and innovators from around the world who immersed themselves on a unique journey.
“This experience is not just a look back at the past, it's a launch pad for the next 50 years. We are immensely proud of the legacy we have built, but even more excited about where we are going,” said Brian Takumi, VP of Brand Soul and Creative at Oakley.
“Oakley was born from the idea of doing things differently, and it is this spirit that still fuels everything we create today. Our heritage is a foundation, not a destination: this anniversary proves that we are just getting started,” added the manager.
Born in a California garage in 1975, the brand has always focused on exploring the future of sports, culture, and innovation, primarily offering high-performance eyewear with ultra-innovative design and functionality, as well as sportswear and outdoor apparel and footwear.
Visitors to the “Interplanetary Headquarters” toured the brand's production line—a rare opportunity—and saw its newest products. They also enjoyed virtual experiences ranging from motorcycle rides to ballistic dreams to trying on morph clothing.
Among the various future projects the brand intends to tackle is its obsession with not stopping at Earth's boundaries. At this celebration, Oakley and Axiom Space officially announced their partnership to develop the visor system for the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU).
This historic collaboration brings together two seemingly distant sectors with a common goal: to equip astronauts with cutting-edge technology that will ensure maximum safety and crystal-clear vision on the first expedition to the south pole of the moon, as part of the Artemis III mission, which is not expected to launch until 2026 at the earliest.
Oakley has always supported those who bravely face extreme conditions such as snowy slopes, scorching trails, and breathtaking descents. Now it is preparing to push beyond all limits: into space.
The AxEMU visor system will bring half a century of innovation in sports and high-performance eyewear to the Moon.
Astronauts are athletes in a class of their own. They operate in hostile and complex environments where vision must be flawless and protection total.
Thanks to Oakley's advanced optical technologies, they will be able to see further and with unprecedented clarity and safety.
The visor system, integrated into the latest generation of space suits developed by Axiom Space and consisting of two foldable elements, is designed to accompany humans into the next era of space exploration.
“The next person to walk on the Moon will be wearing Oakley's most advanced High-Definition Optics (HDO) technology, and that's a huge responsibility for us,” said Ryan Saylor, SVP of advanced product development at Oakley.
“Developing the AxEMU visor system together with Axiom Space is a milestone achievement. It is the result of decades of relentless innovation and a commitment that goes ‘beyond reason’. We are proud to put our tradition of optical excellence and visual clarity at the service of the Artemis III mission and to help shape the future of space exploration,” added Saylor.
The new visor system will be worn by astronauts on the Artemis III mission. It is designed to overcome the visual challenges of space, where light behaves differently and shadows are deeper. Whether they are facing faint starlight or direct sunlight, the visor technology will protect the astronauts from harmful radiation while ensuring maximum visual clarity.
The sophisticated AxEMU visor system consists of two sliding and foldable elements that offer modular protection. It is coated with highly reflective gold to shield extreme light, ensures selective transmission of visible light to improve visibility even in the most intense sunlight. It is also treated to resist lunar dust.
“In space, the sun is incredibly aggressive, it almost feels like it's piercing your eyes,” said Koichi Wakata, astronaut and chief technology officer at Axiom Space.
“That's why you need an extraordinary visor system that can protect your eyes and ensure maximum visibility, allowing us to work even in the most hostile lunar environment,” he added.
Axiom Space chose Oakley for its expertise in extreme sports and activities carried out in harsh environmental conditions.
This collaboration marks a new milestone in human space technology, opening the door to a new era oflunar and beyond exploration for future generations.
READ ALSO: