Our primary focus at Olympic Eyewear is carrying a full selection of wholesale sunglasses that will satisfy our customers. From wayfarers to aviators and cat eye sunglasses for men and women, it's all about making sure that retailers like you have access to quality sunglasses at wholesale prices. As such, we don't worry a whole lot about colloquialisms – like the term 'sunnies'.
Even so, some of us began wondering where the term came from. How did we get from 'sunglasses' to 'shades' to 'sunnies'? Based on our research, we would say that no one really knows. There are a couple of theories that may or may not be credible. One thing we do know is that there is no shortage of colloquial terms people use to refer to their sunglasses.
Perhaps Australian Origins
We will not get into all the theories regarding the origin of 'sunnies'. The one we found most cited online is that the term has Australian origins. The explanation is simple enough: 'sunnies' is a shorter version of 'sunglasses' that seems to have taken hold Down Under in the early part of the 20th century.
The theory goes on to say that the term gradually spread around the world. Today, the term is known across the world. It is also apparently a favorite among young people who see sunglasses more as fashion accessories than eye protection.
Do you use the term? Do your customers? Frankly, we don't care which term a particular consumer chooses. Our main priority is maintaining an ample supply of wholesale sunglasses we sell in bulk at discount prices.
Other Colloquial Terms for Sunglasses
Since we brought it up, 'sunnies' has a lot of competition from other colloquial terms. For example, some people refer to their designer sunglasses as 'blinders'. It is a term most associated with wraparound sunglasses capable of blocking sunlight from all directions.
Here are a few additional colloquialisms you might find interesting:
- Cools – Although this term can be heard in many countries, it seems to have originated in India. The term denotes the fact that a good pair of sunglasses can keep your eyes cool under the hot Indian sun.
- Specs – 'Specs' (spectacles) is a British term that denotes any kind of eyewear. In recent years, it has been adopted specifically for sunglasses. We are more likely to use it here compared to consumers in other parts of the world.
- Shades – This is one of the most common colloquial terms in the U.S. It was made popular in the late 1970s and early 80s. It just works.
- Sunspecs – If you guessed that 'sunspecs' is a combination of 'sunglasses' and 'spectacles', you guessed right. This term needs no further explanation.
- Smoked Glasses – Some of your older customers might remember when sunglasses were referred to as 'smoked glasses' due to their tinted lenses.
There are times when brand names are turned into colloquialisms as well. Take the Ray-Ban brand. It is often used as a generic term for all types of aviators in the same way that 'coke' has become a generic term for cola.
Quality and Price Matter
It is fun to look into some of the colloquial terms people use to refer to their sunglasses. But at the end of the day, what really matters from a sales perspective is quality and price. You expect the bulk sunglasses you buy from us to be high quality products at affordable prices. We deliver.
Likewise, you pass the same quality and cost savings on to your customers. They expect no less regardless of whether they prefer 'sunglasses', 'shades', 'sunnies', or something else.