Carrera was founded in 1956 in Austria by Wilhelm Anger. This hip and sporty eyewear collection was inspired by the Carrera Panamericana auto race. In 1964, Wilhhelm Anger developed and patented the Optyl material, which was a heat-hardened plastic weighing 20% less than acetate. The new design resulted in a reduction of allergic reactions and improved fit through a memory effect that provided permanent elasticity and dimensional stability. Today, Carrera is known worldwide as an innovative sporty design.