Maui Jim

Headquarters in Peoria, Illinois
Type	Privately held company
Industry	Fashion, manufacturing
Founded	Lahaina, Hawaii, U.S. (1980)[1]
Founder	Jim Richards
Headquarters	Peoria, Illinois , U.S.
Key people	Walter Hester, CEO Mike Dalton, President
Products	Sunglasses, eyewear, apparel
Owner	Kering (2022-present)
Website	mauijim.com

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]

History

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]}

Products

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]

Locations

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]

Sponsorships

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]

References

External links

• Official website