Italian Job: How Ombraz Went Full Technical

Since 2019, Ombraz has been quietly revolutionizing eyewear with a deceptively simple concept: what if sunglasses didn't have arms? By replacing traditional temples with a built-in cord system, the brand solved the age-old problems of broken hinges, lost shades, and uncomfortable pressure points. What started as hand-sewn prototypes in a barn has evolved into something we've grown to love—as we detailed in our previous feature on why Ombraz works so damn well.

Now, Ombraz is pushing their innovation into uncharted territory with the Refugio, their most performance-driven frame yet. As co-founder Jensen Brehm puts it: "The Refugio is unlike anything we've released before—bold, technical, and built to perform. It's the first frame that fully fuses our armless design with a true sport-forward, performance profile."

The wraparound design offers full protection while the armless system eliminates pressure points.

Built for When the Sun Doesn't Quit

Named after the Italian word for "shelter," the Refugio was designed to thrive where other eyewear fails. The bold wraparound silhouette offers full-wrap coverage and 100% UVA/UVB protection while staying comfortably off the cheeks—crucial for high-output pursuits where airflow matters.

The technical upgrades run deeper than aesthetics. Fully integrated nose pads offer subtle lift away from the brow, increasing ventilation, reducing fogging, and preventing lens smudging during sustained efforts. The redesigned system also accommodates a wider array of face shapes. For extreme conditions, removable side shields and a UV nose shield provide additional protection that adapts as quickly as conditions change.

Removable side shields and nose shield adapt protection to changing conditions.

The Case for Non-Polarized Precision

Here's where Ombraz reveals their understanding of athletic optics: the Refugio uses non-polarized Carl Zeiss lenses in three bold tints—Grey + Silver Mirror, Grey + Black Mirror, and Brown + Copper Mirror. While polarized lenses get marketing hype, non-polarized optics serve a crucial purpose in dynamic environments.

Polarized lenses eliminate glare, which sounds ideal until you're bombing a technical descent where that "glare" off an icy patch could save you from disaster. Non-polarized lenses preserve natural contrast and depth perception that help athletes react faster and read terrain accurately. It's why Smith and Oakley build their ski goggles without polarization—when you're moving fast through changing conditions, clarity trumps comfort.

Plus, non-polarized optics won't interfere with digital displays, so you can check your GPS computer mid-ride without screen blackout.

Integrated nose pads lift the frame away from your face for crucial airflow during high-output efforts.

Handmade in Italy: The Complete Evolution

The Refugio showcases Ombraz's complete transition to Italian manufacturing. The entire collection is now handmade in a family-owned Northern Italy workshop, just five miles from their Carl Zeiss lens facility. This storied operation evolved from a small lens assembly shop in the '60s to become one of the world's most respected eyewear producers.

Every pair is hand-painted and hand-assembled, with 'MADE IN ITALY' engraved on the right zip-clip. The closed-loop production system runs entirely on solar energy, with state-of-the-art electric injection molding that dramatically reduces oil consumption. Every drop of water is captured and recirculated, creating a low-impact European supply chain that eliminates long-haul shipping from Asia.

The sustainability story amplifies performance: through independent audit, Ombraz verified their 1,713X Net-Benefit Impact by planting 20 mangrove trees for every purchase, making each Refugio carbon-negative.

Handmade in a family-owned Northern Italy workshop just miles from the Carl Zeiss facility.

Ready for Refuge

The Refugio's TR-90 aerospace-grade nylon frames deliver ultralight durability, while the 100% recycled, anti-microbial cord provides bounce-free fit that won't break stride. Available in Regular and XL sizing with Charcoal and Tortoise frame options, it embodies Ombraz's signature simplicity—no hinges to snap, no arms to break.

At $195, the Refugio reflects genuine Italian craftsmanship and world-class Carl Zeiss optics. Launched July 14, 2025, it's available now at Ombraz.com. Because sometimes the best innovation isn't adding features—it's perfecting fundamentals that matter when the sun doesn't quit.