Company type | Privately held company |
---|---|
Industry | Fashion, manufacturing |
Founded | Lahaina, Hawaii, U.S. (1980) [1] |
Founder | Jim Richards |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Walter Hester, CEO Mike Dalton, President |
Products | Sunglasses, eyewear, apparel |
Owner | Kering (2022-present) |
Website |
mauijim |
Maui Jim is an American sunglasses manufacturer based in Peoria, Illinois. [2]
Founded in Lahaina, Hawaii, in 1980, the company designs, develops, and manufactures a wide variety of sunglasses marketed under the eponymous brand name. As of 2015, it was the third-largest producer of sunglasses in the world. [1]
In October 2022, Maui Jim was acquired by Kering. [3]
The company's roots began in 1980 when a fisherman began selling sunglasses on the beaches of Maui, Hawaii. [1] [4] He was known as the original "Maui Jim". [1] Several years later, the company developed polarized sunglasses to protect eyes from glare and ultraviolet rays.
In 1991, Walter Hester, a boat captain, purchased the company and built the brand to what it is today. [4] He named the company Hester Enterprises, Inc. [5]
In 1994, Illinois-based RLI Vision became the mainland distributor for the company, then called Maui Jim Sunglasses. [1]
In 1996, Maui Jim Sunglasses bought RLI Vision from its parent company, Peoria, Illinois-based RLI Corp., and named the new combined entity Maui Jim Inc. [6] The transaction was structured such that RLI Corp became a major shareholder in Maui Jim, and the company moved its headquarters to Peoria. [4] The company kept an office in Maui. [7]
In 2004, the company opened a distribution center in Braunschweig, Germany, a location that eventually became its European headquarters. [8]
In June 2006, the company opened its first prescription lab in Peoria, IL. [9]
In 2011, the company bought Zeal Optics, a Boulder, Colorado-based designer and manufacturer of action-sport polarized goggles and sunglasses. [10] [11]
By 2015, the company had approximately 500 employees. [1] Also in 2015, the company became the title sponsor of college basketball's Maui Invitational Tournament. [12]
In March 2018, the company started selling optical eyeglasses. [13] In July, the company opened its first prescription lab outside of Peoria, located at its European headquarters in Braunschweig. [8]
In March 2022, it was announced the company had been acquired by Kering Eyewear. [14] RLI sold their remaining shares in Maui Jim in 2022. [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] The acquisition was completed in October 2022. [20] [21] [22] [23]
As of 2016, the company sold 125 different styles of polarized sunglasses in over 100 countries. [24] [25] In addition to their non-prescription sports and fashion sunglasses, Maui Jim also produces prescription lenses for their designs including progressive lenses. [4] [13]
The company's glasses incorporate a patented polarization technology called PolarizedPlus2. [26]
Besides its Peoria headquarters, Maui Jim maintains an office and store front in Lahaina, Hawaii, a Canadian office in Mississauga, Ontario, and a European headquarters in Braunschweig, Germany. [7] [8] [27]
The company sponsors college basketball's Maui Invitational Tournament, called the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. [12] The company also sponsors the Australian Sailing Team, [28] professional marathoner Meb Keflezighi, golfer Ernie Els, and kiteboarder Dave Shah, who are brand ambassadors. [29] [30]
Maui Jim is also the official eyewear partner/sponsor to an American based Formula One team, Haas F1 Team. [31] [32]
Company type | Privately held company |
---|---|
Industry | Fashion, manufacturing |
Founded | Lahaina, Hawaii, U.S. (1980) [1] |
Founder | Jim Richards |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Walter Hester, CEO Mike Dalton, President |
Products | Sunglasses, eyewear, apparel |
Owner | Kering (2022-present) |
Website |
mauijim |
Maui Jim is an American sunglasses manufacturer based in Peoria, Illinois. [2]
Founded in Lahaina, Hawaii, in 1980, the company designs, develops, and manufactures a wide variety of sunglasses marketed under the eponymous brand name. As of 2015, it was the third-largest producer of sunglasses in the world. [1]
In October 2022, Maui Jim was acquired by Kering. [3]
The company's roots began in 1980 when a fisherman began selling sunglasses on the beaches of Maui, Hawaii. [1] [4] He was known as the original "Maui Jim". [1] Several years later, the company developed polarized sunglasses to protect eyes from glare and ultraviolet rays.
In 1991, Walter Hester, a boat captain, purchased the company and built the brand to what it is today. [4] He named the company Hester Enterprises, Inc. [5]
In 1994, Illinois-based RLI Vision became the mainland distributor for the company, then called Maui Jim Sunglasses. [1]
In 1996, Maui Jim Sunglasses bought RLI Vision from its parent company, Peoria, Illinois-based RLI Corp., and named the new combined entity Maui Jim Inc. [6] The transaction was structured such that RLI Corp became a major shareholder in Maui Jim, and the company moved its headquarters to Peoria. [4] The company kept an office in Maui. [7]
In 2004, the company opened a distribution center in Braunschweig, Germany, a location that eventually became its European headquarters. [8]
In June 2006, the company opened its first prescription lab in Peoria, IL. [9]
In 2011, the company bought Zeal Optics, a Boulder, Colorado-based designer and manufacturer of action-sport polarized goggles and sunglasses. [10] [11]
By 2015, the company had approximately 500 employees. [1] Also in 2015, the company became the title sponsor of college basketball's Maui Invitational Tournament. [12]
In March 2018, the company started selling optical eyeglasses. [13] In July, the company opened its first prescription lab outside of Peoria, located at its European headquarters in Braunschweig. [8]
In March 2022, it was announced the company had been acquired by Kering Eyewear. [14] RLI sold their remaining shares in Maui Jim in 2022. [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] The acquisition was completed in October 2022. [20] [21] [22] [23]
As of 2016, the company sold 125 different styles of polarized sunglasses in over 100 countries. [24] [25] In addition to their non-prescription sports and fashion sunglasses, Maui Jim also produces prescription lenses for their designs including progressive lenses. [4] [13]
The company's glasses incorporate a patented polarization technology called PolarizedPlus2. [26]
Besides its Peoria headquarters, Maui Jim maintains an office and store front in Lahaina, Hawaii, a Canadian office in Mississauga, Ontario, and a European headquarters in Braunschweig, Germany. [7] [8] [27]
The company sponsors college basketball's Maui Invitational Tournament, called the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. [12] The company also sponsors the Australian Sailing Team, [28] professional marathoner Meb Keflezighi, golfer Ernie Els, and kiteboarder Dave Shah, who are brand ambassadors. [29] [30]
Maui Jim is also the official eyewear partner/sponsor to an American based Formula One team, Haas F1 Team. [31] [32]