Moscot

MOSCOT is a five generation, American luxury eyewear brand, headquartered in New York City, specializing in optical frames and sunglasses. It was founded in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan in 1915 by Hyman Moscot, which makes it one of the oldest local businesses in New York City, as well as the 13th oldest eyewear company in the world still operating today.

Hyman and his wife Leba had six children. In 1925, at 15 years old, Hyman’s youngest son, Solomon, nicknamed “Sol,” took over the business, and in 1935, moved the shop to its iconic location at 118 Orchard Street, where it would be located for nearly eight decades.The bright yellow sign with giant, black-rimmed glasses that adorned its storefront became synonymous with the brand, the neighborhood, and downtown New York, and while most of New York’s historical businesses fell during the Great Depression, the Moscots made it through the 1930s.

Sol’s son, Joel, began presiding over the House of Moscot in 1951. Charming, dedicated, and devoted to his customers, Joel would manage MOSCOT for over fifty years‚ overseeing the Shop’s activities, while conveying the family’s values to his sons, who would soon become the fourth generation of Moscots to take the helm. The oldest, Harvey, graduated from Boston New England College of Optometry in 1986, and began working as a doctor at 118 Orchard. The youngest, Kenny, entered the business in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in finance. In 1996, with father Joel still at the company, Moscot expanded, opening a second shop at 69 W. 14th Street, on the corner of Sixth Avenue, in downtown Manhattan, which remains the company’s flagship location.

After Joel Moscot retired in 2003, the family company rebranded from Sol Moscot to MOSCOT, while at the same time eyewear was transforming from being simply a medical device into a fashion accessory. Together, the fourth generation Moscot siblings reinvented what was once a neighborhood optical shop into what is now a global lifestyle brand, bringing back authentic, classic frame styles, building wholesale and e-commerce eyewear channels, and establishing partnerships with prominent fashion designers. Within a few years, the company had become renowned worldwide for its branded iconic and timeless eyewear.

Harvey Moscot became president of the company in 2010. MOSCOT moved from 118 Orchard Street across Delancey Street to 108 Orchard Street where it remains today. The shop was eventually included in the Tenement Museum’s historical tour of the Lower East Side. In 2013, Moscot opened its third flagship store, this time in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, the façade of which is reminiscent of the family’s first shop at 94 Rivington Street.

Harvey's son, Zack Moscot studied Industrial & Product Design at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and began working full time at MOSCOT in 2013. He is now the company’s chief eyewear designer, representing the fifth generation Moscot to join the brand.

In 2015, the brand celebrated its centennial anniversary. To mark the occasion, MOSCOT partnered with Smart automobile to create a limited edition Smart Car, and was named by GQ magazine as one of the best specialty shops in America.

MOSCOT is known for its bold, classic designs, and downtown aesthetic. The frames, eyeglasses and sunglasses together, are categorized under the MOSCOT Originals and MOSCOT Spirit Collections. Materials vary from acetate to metal and beta-titanium.

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