Oakley isn’t one to rest on its laurels. But who said anything about its fans?
Over the last 50 years, the brand has let innovation define its design, leaving behind now-iconic frames in the name of progress. Few are as revered — and coveted — as those that made up the X-Metal series.
The line debuted in 1997 with the Romeo (originally named the “Oscar”), made famous by its role in one of the opening sequences of Mission: Impossible 2.
However, the complexity and cost of manufacturing, as well as optical innovations elsewhere at the company, saw Oakley sunset the lineup in 2012. Today, a pair of authentic Romeo sunglasses can easily cost north of $1,000 on the secondary market.
Of course, none of this is to say that Oakley is averse to dipping into its toes into the archive for some occasional inspiration and fan-service.
In 2015, the company released the Tailend — a pair distinctly born from the iconic X-Metal series — which will now see its own reissue, courtesy of a collaboration with the Vancouver-based retailer Haven.
