I just wanted to know whether or not you guys still feel like Oakley is still American or not since the sell to Lux? I for one really appreciated when they were American owned and American made. I wished that someone with the mindset of James Jannard would purchase the company back from Lux. I feel it being created and owned by James(American) is what gave Oakley that extra "I wanna own it" feeling in our hearts. I will continue to buy Oakley, but I'm worried they will stray into the land of "proper" and "cliche". That my friends would ruin it for me! It is extremely important to me that I see "made in America" on the inside of the stems, and to know that the greatest sunglasses in the world are created here in the states... employeeing Americans, creating the finest eyewear in our solar system!

So long as the quality is there, It should not matter where they are made.

At the end of the day, they are only sourcing cheaper manufacturing methods which happens with every business.

yeah but to me that is what made oakley, oakley. By not outsourcing cheap labor. I'd pay more for my Oakleys in order for them to remain entirely USA strictly. To me it was a symbol of lasting American pride. Not being sellouts to the dollar bill. Remaining "pure" in a sense. Again I'm not saying I will stop being a fanatic... it just as if the soul of Oakley has joined the mainstream world of every other company. I love the rogue Oakley brought to the table!

Beeing european, I really do not care if Oakley is american or not, no offense...as long as there´s no made in china label I´m not afraid of quality loss.
My enthusiasm about the O never was founded on wether they produce in the US of A or not. This is one world.

But now I do understand, why companies like Lexus are putting so much effort in making People believe they are american ;)

I'm with Lee. It's more about the quality than the location. Some of my favourite frames from other brands are made abroad in Japan or Italy.

There are many reasons to produce abroad, whether it be financial or otherwise. Your dream pair, the CF C6, was actually mostly produced in the UK, but that was necessary to find decent manafacturers that can pull off their plans.

As for the question itself, I still feel Oakley is American. It'll always feel American because that's where the company HQ is located and how the press reports it. It's like Apple; designed in America, produced in China, but still very much American.

I agree, Oakley is American. Its the Ideal and Presense that makes it American. Rebels, outlaws, crazy always riding the edge....American. They have catered more to the masses lately, but havent completely lost that flair.



and to comment on

But now I do understand, why companies like Lexus are putting so much effort in making People believe they are american ;)

....you have no idea....in Japan the exact same car is called.....A TOYOTA. But Americans wont pay that top dollar for a TOYOTA, sooooooo, in a marketing tactic used the world over, the name is changed to LEXUS so we think we are getting something special.

but interior is no leather .

interesting takes fellows. In no way am I trying to step on anyone's toes here. With certain things however, I'm a purist. For instance I would never buy a lambo if it were not made it Italy... Just like I wouldn't purchase a japanese sword made in taiwan. I just think certain things should remain "pure"! As I said before, I will always purchase the O, I just wish they would remain "pure" to the core, just like the Lambos and the traditional samurai sword.

You make a good point with the Lambo and Samurai sword. Personally, I don't see Oakley as that traditional, but that is an excellent point.

Agreed

Thanks guys and for me I do see oakley as that traditional. The took sunglasses beyond just shades! Oakley made them "cool", innovating, exciting, and something to be worn and not just an accessory. When people see the pit bosses, over the tops, c6, etc. they see more than just shades... they see art, technology, etc. No one compliments on toyotas, but everyone admires lambos and even mustangs! How many people went out and bought a new toyota after seeing transformers 2... probably very few, but how many of those same movie goers went and bought the new camaro? Ask chevy. My point is tradition and image is what make us stay loyal to those things we view as exceptional! Oakleys to me were and. Are traditional, but they have lost some of that by not being "american" owned anymore! Let's all chip in and buy the comapny!

When people see the pit bosses, over the tops, c6, etc. they see more than just shades... they see art, technology, etc.....but they have lost some of that by not being "american" owned anymore!

I definitely hear ya, bro, but two out of the three pieces you mentiond were released under Lux ownership, and one of them isn't produced in America. Surely Italian ownership is working well if stuff like PBs and JBs are getting out to the market. But I do agree that there were a lot more cool products when JJ was involved.

Oak makes an excellent point of the fact that Oakley still has its headquarters in the US, so for me it will remain American.

But, saying that, theres nothing wrong with outsoucing certain materials and processes to keep Oakley on top of there game, and lets face it, Oakley have been doing just that long before the Lux takeover, with bags, apparel, even microfibers have been sourced from Korea for quite a while.

Back in 2002 Oakley opened up a facility in Ireland making RX lenses to sell to the European market, and back then, even all the display items were all manufactured in France.

Also Oak hits on the creation of the C6 which is made here in the UK then shipped over to the US to be sold.

So I do fully understand that you would like to keep things pure, but its how far you want to take it really.

Agreed and yes I think it is awesome that the c6 are built in the UK, however it was much needed to do so with the help of crosby. In order to justify the price, "the best(crosby)" had to be used. That I'm thankful for indeed, but I am worried that Lux may wanna mold oakley into what they think it ought to be as opposed to what it is... the best American made sunglass company on the planet and one that we can say will never be duplicated or best in our lifetime! So far they have been good, but can change overnight.

but I am worried that Lux may wanna mold oakley into what they think it ought to be as opposed to what it is

I think Oakley was already doing that themselves several years before Lux got ahold of them. I mean, stuff like the Riddle, Dart and Zero L is fine now if you like that sorta thing, but back then it wasn't very Oakley-like. They came out with a lot of that stuff in the 2004-2007 era, catering to more of the fashion crowd. It wasn't until a year or so after Lux rule was there for a larger mixture of wild vs. mundane. How long this will last is unknown (probably as long as the O outperforms the Lux portfolio), but Oakley was headed down the fashion/streetwear road and getting away for the super crazy stuff a long time before Lux bought them out. IMO, 2009 was the best year in a long time for super cool products.....PB, JB, XS, TBII, Elite Boot, crazy frogskin colours...

I do admit product quality has suffered a lot more in recent years and that's one reason to keep things in America, but the design quality is still there. Some of the older guard who've designed many of Oakley's classics are still designing and with Baden at the helm, I'm sure we'll still see more crazy products.

I think it only matters to the Americans on here. For me, as mentioned above, as long as the quality is there i don't care where they are made.
I don't want to cause any offence, but being an American brand has no influence on my O addiction

Nor would it have it on mine if it were in New Zealand that Oakley was started. Orignal birth place of something like Oakley is vital to more than just Americans(not offended at all)! For instance, I may move to another county or another country, but I'll always be from Miami. What if Kia made the Camaro with a V4 engine inside?... Would u still feel as though it was a Camaro? What if Ducati used an inline four engine and was made in Africa, would it still be that sexy Desmo V-twin from Italy? What if the street you grew up on was renamed to something else... I'm willing to bet that you'd call it the name it was while growing up regardless if the new name was "Oakley Street", lol! Well that may be pushing it!!!

If quality is maintained does not matter. O being "American" ..well I am not sure what that means...Native Americans could be considered the only people able to produce "pure" American goods in N. America.(They'd probably be great..I have handmade stuff I got in AZ from native people and they are made incredibly well). I mean that with respect. My wife is Mexican and it wouldn't bother me if O is made well in other countries. If they start churning out stuff that's indistinguishable from NYC Street vendor Foakleys then it is a problem. I just want that classic O look and feel ..when that's eaten up by Euro fashion designs Oakley becomes a different company but if my Minutes or SJ's were made elsewhere doesn't bother me.

I'm with Lee to here too.
Back in the day when I was into motor bikes, English bikes were the bikes to have.
The invention and design were awesome and totally ahead of the times, sadly being made in England they were as reliable as a chocolate fire guard,
We believed we were untouchable.
Had we out sourced to Japans up coming manufacturing procedures, we may still have a motor cycle manufacturing industry and a say in today’s market.

Not that Oakley is in danger of suffering the same fate, but Oakley should out source to other locations that can maintain the brand. And always try to be ahead of manufacturing processes, and cheaper costs

Not sure the analogy works, but as long as the design is Oakley, and the quality sustained I’m not (to a degree) that bothered

While there's some self-interest in keeping the local economy going, as long as it's in a modernized country I'm okay with some outsourcing. Especially with the C6 where the tech originated in Italy. I think the point becomes more anti-produced in some cheap labor (thus cheaper quality control) environment. Which is why since HQ is in Cali, I like the production remaining there. Worst case the quality checks should all make one last stop there.

Agreed, with all your points that is! Dann u hit the nail on the head. Yes final say should come from Cali. I'm just concerned that eventually Lux would know that because us fanatics will remain loyal, they would move out of Cali and make Oakley into every other company out there. To me there are certain things that need to remain where they started with the same values and goals that got them to where they are at. I look at Oakley just like I look at the Mustang I drive and the Lambo I eventually wanna own, and the other products/toys I buy for myself... they are things that no one else can clone, or produce because it just doesn't feel right if it ain't the original.

Colin is still at the wheel, so fear not.