A Massachusetts company manufactured the gold-rimmed aviator sunglasses gifted to Russian President Vladimir Putin by President Joe Biden during their meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday.
Randolph USA, located in the town of Randolph, handmade the Concorde Teardrop Aviator sunglasses gifted to Putin, the White House and the company’s CEO both confirmed.
Peter Waszkiewicz, president and CEO of Randolph USA, said he and his employees were ecstatic when they heard the news about Biden’s gift to Putin.
“Wow - I mean, come on, we’re honored,” he said.
Waszkiewicz, whose father started the company 48 years ago, told Boston 25 that the pair gifted to Putin is one of their bestselling frames.
“We were an engineering company by trade that my father started back in 1972,” Waszkiewicz said.
In 1978, Randolph USA started making sunglasses and soon landed a contract with the U.S. military, one they still have.
”We are selling approximately 25,000 frames a month,” said Waszkiewicz.
The high-end sunglasses that made the news during the Geneva summit, in the design “American Gray,” have 23-karat gold rims and retail for $299, according to the company.
“A timeless style steeped in American military heritage. Worn by pilots, adventurers and tastemakers alike, both men and women,” the company website states. “The teardrop style aviator is a mainstay for sunglass fans around the globe, made right here by hand in Randolph, Massachusetts.”
The company’s online business has also taken off and they caught the attention of the White House.
”I speak for the company and speak for all the employees that work hard here and we’re just ecstatic and excited that our frames got chosen,” Waszkiewicz said.
Making Randolph sunglasses is a painstaking 200-step, six-week process for every pair.
Waszkiewicz says good quality and hard work got his business where it is today and he’s proud it’s all made in the USA.
”It’s great to be honoring this country’s heritage with an American-made product,” Waszkiewicz.
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