CARRERA

CARRERA was founded in 1956 in Austria by Wilhelm Anger as the sports eyewear maker Wilhelm Anger Werker inspired by the Carrera Panamericana auto race.^[1] Twenty years later, they changed their name to Optyl International and devoted themselves to make motorcycle goggles and ski masks.
In 1964, Wilhhelm Anger developed and patented the ‘Optyl’ material^[2], which was a heat-hardened plastic weighing 20% less than acetate^[1] resulting in a reduction of allergic reactions and improved fit through a memory effect that provided permanent elasticity and dimensional stability.^[3]
In 1974, the company was renamed CARRERA International and established a headquarters in Traun, Austria, and went to partner with automobile designer Ferdinand Alexander to develop the sunglass collection CARRERA Porsche Design.^[3]
In the 1980s, CARRERA sponsored sporting events such as the America’s Cup, the 1988 Winter Olympics, and Formula 1 racing.
In 1996, Safilo Group S.p.A. purchased CARRERA and now have headquarters in Padova, Italy.