Designer eyewear company Luxottica Group announced today that it has repurposed a part of its Orange County, Calif. factory to supply face shields to meet the growing demand for coverage amid COVID-19.
The 550,000 ft2 facility in the Foothill Ranch neighborhood typically produces thousands of units of Oakley eyewear and goggles each day. The company refocused personnel and operations to build face shields alongside existing product. Luxottica said it will donate the first 140,000 face shields to frontline workers in hospitals around the country.
The Oakley face shields will be made from a mix of polycarbonate, acetate, PET or APET. Compatible with N95 respirator masks and protective eyewear, the shields meet ANSI Z87.1 standards for protection against droplets, according to the company.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Luxottica and its brands including Oakley and Costa have donated tens of thousands of protective eyewear, goggles and masks to hospitals and other institutions in areas where it has a large presence, including Southern California, New York, Atlanta, Cincinnati and South Florida. It also provided masks to thousands of its wholesale customers across North America.
“We have seen the best of humanity over the past few months in our communities and among our own employees at Luxottica,” said Fabrizio Uguzzoni, president of Luxottica Wholesale North America, in a news release. “But the reality is the virus isn’t going to disappear in the short term and the need for protection remains critical. As we look to do our part, it’s clear we have the capacity, resources and talent to make a real impact, starting with our strong suit — designing and manufacturing the highest quality eyewear.”
