Since 1915, Moscot eyewear has been a fixture of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, when Hyman Moscot began selling glasses from a pushcart on Orchard Street. The little shop has come a long way since then, with famous faces including Kate Hudson, Anderson Cooper, and Rob Lowe sporting its frames, but the Moscot family still operates their flagship store in the neighbourhood that gave them their humble start.
The company is currently operated by optometrist Dr. Harvey Moscot and chief eyewear designer Zach Moscot, the fourth and fifth generation of family proprietors. “He understands first-hand how a frame should fit,” Zach says of his father. “We’re not just producing frames—were producing frames that fit very well.” The company offers a collection of Originals, packed with glasses modelled after their archived frames made between 1930 and 1970. The brand’s other designs blend tradition with modernity, reflective of more contemporary eyewear silhouettes. Moscot frames are available globally through select retailers, and are coming to Vancouver for a trunk show at BruceToo on Oct. 24 and Bruce Eyewear on Oct. 25.
To celebrate its 2015 centennial, Moscot collaborated with Daimler AG to design 100 Fortwo Cabrio Smart Cars. The pint-sized auto was given a Moscot makeover with a glossy black exterior accented by punchy yellow details, and each car included a pair of coordinating key-hole specs with a thin band of yellow surrounding the frame. Zach calls the collaboration “one of the coolest experiences I’ve had as a designer.” In addition, Moscot released an updated version of its iconic Lemtosh frame, favoured by the likes of Johnny Depp, Buddy Holly, Andy Warhol, and Truman Capote. The special edition includes a trio of clip-on lenses for cloudy, nighttime, and sunny conditions.
Moscot has continued as a collaborative entity, working with denim brand Simon Miller to create a pair of goggle-esque sunglasses. “It was a modern interpretation of a glacier glasses,” says Zach. “We were trying to incorporate a rugged vibe with downtown New York City aspects.” The sunglasses are composed of a substantial silver frame with a removable section of indigo-dyed leather that encompasses the doubled bridge, harmonizing the two companies within a single product. Zach confirms that future collaborations are in the works, but remains mum as to any particularities.
Over the past century, the company has managed to strike a balance between a consistency that sustains repeat customers, and a fresh take that attracts new ones. As for the next 100 years, the vision is looking 20-20.
