What Is the Oakley Logo?
The Oakley logo is a flat oval ring, the ellipse that Oakley's founder Jim Jannard called the O-icon. It is the first letter of the name drawn as a stretched, hollow O, and it works on its own without the word Oakley beside it. The mark belongs to Oakley, Inc., the eyewear and sports gear company Jannard started in his garage in California in 1975, which has been part of the Italian group Luxottica since 2007.
Oakley also uses its name as a wordmark, and the ellipse turns up on frame arms, goggle straps and clothing. The ellipse is available as the Oakley logo SVG.
Oakley Logo Facts
| Symbol | An ellipse, or stretched letter O |
| Logo type | Lettermark: a single O drawn as an ellipse |
| Earlier mark | The Oakley name, on the strap of the 1980 O-Frame goggle |
| Owner | Oakley, Inc., part of Luxottica |
What the Oakley Logo Means
The O stands for Oakley, and Oakley is a dog. Jannard named the company after his English Setter, Oakley Anne. That gives the mark a far softer origin than the technical, sport-led look of the products it sits on.
The ellipse is also a lens shape. Jannard has said that one of his early sunglasses had a full ellipse lens that matched the new O-icon logo, so the mark and the eyewear were designed to echo each other. When Oakley marked its 50th anniversary in 2025, it did the reverse and built a frame out of the logo. The Ellipse sunglasses were described as an ode to the logo, drawing on the curve of the mark and on the rounded shapes of Oakley's 1990s products.
Oakley Logo History
Jannard started Oakley in 1975 with an investment of $300. His first product was not eyewear but a handlebar grip. He sold what he called the Oakley Grip from the back of his car at motocross races.
In 1980 he released the O-Frame goggle, and the Oakley name printed on its strap made the brand recognisable at the track. Ski goggles followed in 1983. The first sunglasses, the Factory Pilot Eyeshades, came out in 1984, and the Frogskin followed in 1985.
Jannard has said that the O was drawn in more than one way over the years: a prototype carried a squished O, while production frames used what he calls the Diamond O. He also came up with a static version of the icon, and has said he does not know why it is not used more.
On 21 June 2007 Luxottica announced a plan to buy Oakley for $2.1 billion, and the deal closed on 15 November that year.
Oakley and Its Sister Brand
Under Luxottica, Oakley shares an owner with Ray-Ban (compare the Ray-Ban logo). Where Ray-Ban leads with its name, Oakley leans on a shape that needs no letters beyond a single O. The 2025 Ellipse frame showed how far that goes: a logo turned into a pair of sunglasses.
For more brands like Oakley, browse our fashion logos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Oakley logo represent?
It is an ellipse standing for the O in Oakley, which its founder Jim Jannard called the O-icon.
Why is the company called Oakley?
Jim Jannard named it after his English Setter, Oakley Anne.
What was Oakley's first product?
The Oakley Grip, a motorcycle handlebar grip that Jannard sold at motocross events in the 1970s.
Who owns Oakley?
Luxottica, which completed its purchase of Oakley in November 2007.
Are there sunglasses shaped like the Oakley logo?
Yes. The Ellipse, released for Oakley's 50th anniversary in 2025, takes its shape from the logo.