Costa Del Mar
| File:Costa Del Mar logo.jpg | |
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sunglasses |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Ray Ferguson, co-owner Austin Leplow |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | John Costa (CEO) |
| Products | Sunglasses, Eyewear, Apparel |
| Revenue | $100 million (2013) |
| Parent | EssilorLuxottica |
| Website | www |
Costa Del Mar, commonly known as Costa, is a US-based manufacturer specializing in polarized sunglasses, originally headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida. After being acquired by Essilor in 2013 and later integrated into the EssilorLuxottica group following their 2018 merger, Costa now functions as a subsidiary within Luxottica's portfolio. The company primarily serves the sports eyewear market, with a particular emphasis on outdoor pursuits such as fishing and boating.
Costa has distinguished itself through innovative and eco-friendly product lines, including the Untangled Collection. Its Baffin model received the Best of Show: Eyewear award at ICAST 2018, underscoring its reputation for superior product quality.
The brand name "Costa Del Mar" means "coast of the sea" in Spanish. Since joining EssilorLuxottica, Costa has broadened its international presence by leveraging the parent company's infrastructure to strengthen its position and accelerate growth within the outdoor and sports eyewear segment.
History
Established in 1983 by Ray Ferguson in Daytona Beach, Costa Del Mar quickly gained recognition. By 1986, it was chosen as the official eyewear for the Stars & Stripes team competing in the America's Cup yacht race and became popular among surfers and anglers for its effective sun glare reduction. The brand also appeared as a sponsor in the 1987 video game California Games.
In 2013, Essilor completed an all-cash acquisition of Costa Del Mar valued at around $270 million, expanding its global footprint. In 2017, Costa collaborated with NASCAR driver Austin Dillon to release a limited edition sunglasses series; Dillon subsequently won the 2018 Daytona 500.
That year also saw TJ McMeniman appointed as vice-president of marketing, marking a notable shift in leadership strategy. However, Costa faced legal challenges over allegations of "deceptive trade practices" concerning its warranty program, which promised repairs or replacements for a "nominal fee" that plaintiffs argued was nearly equivalent to purchasing new eyewear.
In August 2019, CEO Holly Rush was removed from her position, with department leaders beginning to report directly to Luxottica management. Early in 2020, Costa announced plans to shut down most of its Daytona Beach facilities and transfer production to Luxottica’s factory in Foothill Ranch, California by September 2020. This restructuring aimed to improve manufacturing efficiency within the larger corporate framework.
Social responsibility
Costa’s #OneCoast initiative is dedicated to aiding those affected by natural calamities through fundraising efforts for the Red Cross hurricane relief program. Furthermore, the collaboration between Costa+OCEARCH generates financial support for OCEARCH, a nonprofit organization committed to the preservation of marine wildlife.
In 2018, Costa introduced the Untangled Collection in partnership with Bureo, aimed at minimizing oceanic plastic pollution. Bureo transforms discarded fishing nets into plastic pellets, which Costa then incorporates into the production of its eco-friendly eyewear frames.
Product innovation
Costa has established a reputation for its exclusive 580 lens technology, which improves color vibrancy and contrast by filtering out intense yellow and damaging blue light. These lenses are available in two variants: 580G (glass) and 580P (polycarbonate), both delivering exceptional clarity, resistance to scratches, and lightweight comfort. Every pair of Costa sunglasses is polarized and offers complete UV protection, making them highly regarded as premium fishing sunglasses among both amateur and professional anglers.
In addition to lens technology, Costa’s PRO Series frames incorporate features such as sweat management channels, customizable nose pads, and enhanced grip surfaces, all engineered to meet the demands of rigorous marine environments.
Recent developments
By 2023, Costa operates as part of EssilorLuxottica, concentrating strategically on performance eyewear tailored for aquatic activities. The brand has broadened its PRO Series collection with robust frames and cutting-edge lenses designed specifically for professional anglers and outdoor sports enthusiasts.
Costa has intensified its dedication to sustainability by advancing the Untangled Collection and expanding programs like Kick Plastic and Responsible Shipping, which encourage environmentally responsible consumer habits and sustainable logistics practices.