Costa Del Mar
Costa Del Mar is a U.S.-origin performance eyewear brand best known for polarized sunglasses designed for fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities.
Last updated October 15, 2026
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Overview
Costa Del Mar, commonly shortened to Costa, is an American performance-eyewear brand founded in 1983 by Ray Ferguson in Daytona Beach, Florida. The brand developed around the practical needs of people spending extended periods on or near the water, particularly anglers, boaters, sailors, and surfers. Its core proposition is glare reduction and visual comfort in bright outdoor environments, supported by polarized lenses, durable frames, and sport-oriented fit features. The name Costa Del Mar is Spanish for “coast of the sea,” reflecting the company’s maritime orientation. Costa gained early visibility through sailing and water-sports communities. In 1986, it became official gear of the Stars & Stripes team in the America’s Cup yacht-racing competition. The association helped establish Costa as specialist equipment rather than merely lifestyle eyewear. The brand also appeared as a sponsor in the 1987 video game California Games, extending its recognition beyond its original coastal and sporting audience. Costa’s product identity is centered on polarized sunglasses and proprietary lens technology. Its 580 lens platform is designed to improve contrast and color perception while filtering portions of harsh light. The lenses are offered in glass and polycarbonate formats, marketed respectively around optical clarity and durability or reduced weight and impact resistance. The brand’s frames are built for active use, with features such as adjustable nose pads, secure grip, and sweat-management details. The PRO Series particularly targets professional and recreational anglers and other users who need eyewear to remain stable in wet, bright, and physically demanding conditions. Essilor acquired Costa in 2013 in an approximately $270 million all-cash transaction. After Essilor merged with Luxottica in 2018, Costa became part of EssilorLuxottica and was placed under the Luxottica division. The ownership transition changed the operational structure of the business. Luxottica closed Costa’s Daytona Beach facility after acquiring the brand, and the company announced in late 2019 that Daytona Beach operations would end by February 7, 2020, with remaining layoffs scheduled to be completed by September 2020. Production was expected to be concentrated largely at Luxottica’s Foothill Ranch, California, facility. The brand has continued to use partnerships and environmental initiatives to reinforce its connection to oceans and outdoor recreation. Activities have included the #OneCoast relief campaign, Costa’s partnership with OCEARCH, and the Untangled Collection, which uses material derived from discarded fishing nets collected and processed through Bureo. Costa has also promoted wider sustainability programs such as Kick Plastic and Responsible Shipping. In sport marketing, the brand partnered with NASCAR driver Austin Dillon in 2017 on a limited-edition eyewear release; Dillon subsequently won the 2018 Daytona 500. Costa remains positioned within EssilorLuxottica’s portfolio as a specialized performance-sunglasses brand focused on water-based activities, fishing, and outdoor sports.
History
Costa Del Mar was established in 1983 by Ray Ferguson in Daytona Beach, Florida. From the beginning, the company concentrated on eyewear for intense outdoor light and water environments rather than on conventional fashion sunglasses. Its early customer base included fishermen, boaters, sailors, surfers, and other people exposed to glare reflected from the surface of the ocean, lakes, and rivers. The company’s maritime identity was reinforced in 1986, when Costa became official gear of the Stars & Stripes team in the America’s Cup. This association gave the young brand credibility within competitive sailing and helped it reach recreational water-sports participants. Costa also appeared as a sponsor in the 1987 video game California Games, an early example of the brand using a broader sports and entertainment context to communicate its coastal positioning. Costa’s central technical proposition became polarized eyewear intended to reduce glare and improve comfort during prolonged outdoor use. The brand later developed its 580 lens technology, which it describes as filtering harsh portions of the light spectrum while enhancing perceived contrast and color. The platform includes 580G glass lenses and 580P polycarbonate lenses. Costa’s performance frames have also incorporated practical features including adjustable nose pads, secure grip, and channels intended to manage sweat. These design choices have made the brand particularly visible in recreational and professional fishing. In 2013, Essilor acquired Costa in an all-cash deal reported at approximately $270 million. Essilor subsequently merged with Luxottica in 2018, creating EssilorLuxottica. Costa was placed under the Luxottica division and became part of a much larger global eyewear structure. The change in ownership was followed by operational consolidation. Luxottica closed the Daytona Beach facility, and in December 2019 Costa announced that operations there would end by February 7, 2020. The remaining layoffs were expected to be completed by September 2020, while much of the brand’s production was to be handled at Luxottica’s Foothill Ranch, California, facility. Costa continued to build its identity through sports partnerships, environmental programs, and product development. In 2017, it collaborated with NASCAR driver Austin Dillon on a limited-edition pair of sunglasses. In 2018, the Baffin model received Best of Show recognition in the eyewear category at the ICAST fishing-industry event. The same year, Costa introduced its Untangled Collection in partnership with Bureo. Bureo collects discarded fishing nets and converts them into plastic pellets that can be used in frame production. The company has also promoted the #OneCoast relief initiative, which supports disaster-relief fundraising connected with the American Red Cross hurricane-relief program, and Costa+OCEARCH, a partnership intended to support ocean-wildlife protection. Broader efforts such as Kick Plastic and Responsible Shipping have extended the sustainability message beyond individual products. At the same time, Costa has faced legal scrutiny over warranty wording. Lawsuits alleged that the promised “nominal fee” for repair or replacement could be close to the cost of buying new eyewear, leading to deceptive-trade-practice claims. Costa remains an active EssilorLuxottica brand. Its current identity is that of a specialist performance-eyewear label, with the PRO Series and 580 lens platform aimed at marine recreation, fishing, and other outdoor activities. The brand’s history combines a Florida coastal origin, specialist optical development, sports marketing, environmental partnerships, and integration into a multinational eyewear group.
- 2019
Daytona Beach closure announced
[1]Costa announces the planned end of its Daytona Beach operations and associated workforce reductions.
- 2018
Untangled Collection launches
[1]Costa launches the Untangled Collection using material made from recovered fishing nets through Bureo.
- 2018
Baffin wins ICAST eyewear award
[1]Costa’s Baffin sunglasses receive Best of Show recognition in the eyewear category at ICAST 2018.
- 2018
Essilor and Luxottica merge
[1]The Essilor-Luxottica merger places Costa within EssilorLuxottica and under the Luxottica division.
- 2017
Austin Dillon limited-edition collaboration
[1]Costa partners with NASCAR driver Austin Dillon on a limited-quantity special-edition sunglasses release.
- 2013
Acquisition by Essilor
[1]Essilor acquires Costa in an approximately $270 million all-cash transaction.
- 1987
California Games sponsorship appearance
[1]The brand appears as a sponsor in the video game California Games.
- 1986
Stars & Stripes sailing partnership
[1]Costa becomes official gear of the Stars & Stripes team in the America’s Cup yacht-racing competition.
- 1983
Costa Del Mar is founded
[1]Ray Ferguson establishes Costa Del Mar in Daytona Beach, Florida, with a focus on outdoor and marine eyewear.
Products and positioning
Premium performance eyewear for anglers, boaters, sailors, surfers, and outdoor enthusiasts, with an emphasis on polarized glare reduction, optical clarity, durability, and marine sustainability.
Lens platform
580 lens technology
Costa’s proprietary 580 platform is the brand’s main optical technology. It is designed for polarized glare reduction and improved contrast and color perception in bright outdoor settings. The lenses are offered in 580G glass and 580P polycarbonate versions, allowing the range to address different preferences for optical clarity, scratch resistance, weight, and impact resistance. The technology is especially associated with fishing and other activities around reflective water.
Performance sunglasses
PRO Series
The PRO Series is Costa’s performance-oriented eyewear line for demanding marine and outdoor use. Its frames incorporate functional elements such as improved grip, adjustable nose pads, and sweat-management channels intended to keep the glasses stable during prolonged activity. The line is closely associated with professional and recreational anglers, but its use case also includes boating and other high-glare outdoor sports.
Sunglasses
Baffin
Baffin is a Costa sunglasses model recognized in the fishing and outdoor-eyewear market. The model received Best of Show recognition in the eyewear category at ICAST 2018, giving it visibility among fishing-industry professionals and enthusiasts.
Sustainable eyewear collection · 2018
Untangled Collection
The Untangled Collection was launched in partnership with Bureo. Its frames use material derived from discarded fishing nets that Bureo collects and processes into plastic pellets. The collection connects Costa’s product design with its marine-conservation positioning and its effort to address plastic waste associated with ocean and fishing environments.
Controversies
2026
Warner Music sues six Ray-Ban-linked eyewear companies over unlicensed music in social media adverts
A Warner Music lawsuit filed in New York on 9 October 2026 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York accuses six EssilorLuxottica-linked companies — Luxottica Group S.p.A., Luxottica of America, Oakley, Chapter 4 Corp., Costa Del Mar and Eye Buy Direct — of using copyrighted music in social media adverts for eyewear brands including Ray-Ban, Oakley and Sunglass Hut without permission. The 23 Warner-affiliated plaintiffs allege unauthorised use of at least 427 sound recordings and musical compositions, including direct, contributory and vicarious copyright infringement, and seek up to $150,000 in statutory damages per work. The allegations are Warner's account and have not been tested by the court.
Warranty-related deceptive-trade-practice lawsuits
Costa was involved in lawsuits alleging that its warranty promise to repair or replace glasses for a “nominal fee” was misleading because the fee could be nearly the price of a new pair. The allegations concerned warranty disclosures and consumer expectations; the supplied source does not establish a final disposition.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Austin Dillon limited-edition eyewear
United States
Costa collaborated with NASCAR driver Austin Dillon on a limited-quantity special-edition sunglasses release, linking the brand to motorsport and outdoor-performance audiences.
Outcome. The supplied source does not report sales results or other measurable campaign outcomes.
- #OneCoast
United States
A charitable initiative associated with Costa that raises funds for disaster-relief efforts, including Red Cross hurricane-relief programs.
Outcome. Specific fundraising totals and campaign dates are not established in the supplied sources.
- Costa+OCEARCH
United States · International markets
A partnership with OCEARCH intended to raise support for ocean-wildlife protection and marine research or conservation activities.
Outcome. Specific fundraising totals and measurable outcomes are not established in the supplied sources.
Brand decisions
2019
Operational consolidation under LuxotticaStrategyBackground
After Costa became part of EssilorLuxottica, the brand’s operations were reorganized within the Luxottica structure.
Action taken
Costa announced the closure of its Daytona Beach operations, with production expected to be concentrated largely at Luxottica’s Foothill Ranch facility.
Aftermath
Daytona Beach operations were scheduled to end in February 2020, followed by further layoffs through September 2020.
2018
Launch of the Untangled CollectionProduct launchBackground
Discarded fishing nets are a source of plastic pollution in marine environments, a problem closely connected to Costa’s core customer and product territory.
Action taken
Costa introduced frames made with material derived from recovered fishing nets processed through Bureo.
Aftermath
The collection became part of Costa’s sustainability and marine-conservation positioning.
2013
Essilor acquisitionM&ABackground
Costa was a specialist polarized-sunglasses brand operating in the performance and marine-eyewear segment.
Action taken
Essilor acquired Costa in an all-cash transaction reported at approximately $270 million.
Aftermath
Costa later became part of EssilorLuxottica following the 2018 Essilor-Luxottica merger.
Reported acquisition value. Approximately $270 million (2013 transaction)
Recent events
Warner Music sues six Ray-Ban-linked eyewear companies over unlicensed music in social media adverts[2]
Reported:
A Warner Music lawsuit filed in New York on 9 October 2026 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York accuses six EssilorLuxottica-linked companies — Luxottica Group S.p.A., Luxottica of America, Oakley, Chapter 4 Corp., Costa Del Mar and Eye Buy Direct — of using copyrighted music in social media adverts for eyewear brands including Ray-Ban, Oakley and Sunglass Hut without permission. The 23 Warner-affiliated plaintiffs allege unauthorised use of at least 427 sound recordings and musical compositions, including direct, contributory and vicarious copyright infringement, and seek up to $150,000 in statutory damages per work. The allegations are Warner's account and have not been tested by the court.
Sources2 sources
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