Forever fascinated by heritage brands, we jumped at the opportunity to speak with Zack Moscot, Chief Design Officer and fifth generation of the 108-year-old MOSCOT American luxury eyewear brand. Founded in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1915, MOSCOT is known worldwide for its unmistakable look. The collections are designed in New York, and the most iconic glasses, such as the LEMTOSH, have a unique, unmistakably MOSCOT style. The best part? This was and continues to be a family-run business. Read our revealing interview below. —Noa Nichol
Hello Zack! It is a pleasure to be able to interview you. Can you please begin by telling us a bit about yourself and your family?
So nice to meet you! Well, to start, I can say I am a family man inside and out. My life is about my family and my family business—so that means family at home and at work! I have three children, two girls and one boy, one or all of whom I anticipate will enter the business one day, representing the sixth generation of MOSCOT! Of course, no pressure though!
When and why was MOSCOT founded? What niche did/does the brand set out to fill?
MOSCOT was founded over a century ago when my great, great grandfather, Hyman Moscot (first generation), came to America from Eastern Europe in 1899 and started selling glasses on a pushcart (our logo today) in NYC. Hyman’s cart is stamped inside every MOSCOT frame—a reminder of who we are, where we came from, and our humble beginnings in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. This is who we are—a family business built on generations of expertise, service, relationships, fairness, and a passion for the craft of eyewear and eyecare. Our customers appreciate what we do and the premium product we work tirelessly to create. A mindset more than a particular person per se—this is about a connection to heritage, craftsmanship and authenticity.
When did you realize MOSCOT was potentially equipped to be bigger than a local optical shop/brand?
When I was a little boy, I was concerned about joining the business because I didn’t want to be an optician or optometrist like my predecessors. The eyeballs, per se, did not exactly pique my interest. However, I always had an affinity for products and the relationship between people and objects and had an “eye” for art and design. I had my “aha” moment when I was a teenager and I realized I could contribute to the business in a new way, through a creative lens. This was when I decided to become a formally trained designer and be the first MOSCOT product designer, expanding the collection with an eye on the future but a close connection to its past. My father and I have worked together over the last decade now, as close partners, expanding the brand in a very curated way. Our fans and customers share a similar mentality and love for our designs and our brand values, and we continue to try to bring the unique MOSCOT experience to key cities around the globe.
What elements do you count among the inspiration behind your designs? How do fashion, fun, cheekiness, humour and playfulness factor in, and how does MOSCOT’s brand heritage play into new product designs?
Our heritage and history are critical aspects of my design process. I’ve always believed the saying, “If you don’t know where you’ve come from, you won’t know where you’re going.” In the world of design, this means being informed historically to make clever and insightful design decisions that speak to the past, present, and future. Fortunately for me, I have a century of family history to work off and the energies of NYC all around me. I find spending time in our MOSCOT NYC shops to be an incredible source of inspiration as I feed off the vibes and the sensibilities of our customers—a diverse and unique assortment of individuals that step through our doors every day.
We know that quality customer service is extremely important to MOSCOT, especially given your family’s background in optics. How key is this today with your customers?
It’s critical because our expertise is at the heart of what do—everything from service to design. People entrust us with their visual needs, and this means providing a perfect optical fit from frame to lenses and everything in-between. We provide guidance based on one’s lifestyle and produce frame styles in an array of sizes so anyone that visits a MOSCOT shop can find something that works for them.
You are a favourite among quite a few A-list celebrities! How have these relationships been cultivated? And, if you could pick one male and one female throughout history to wear MOSCOT, who would they be?
Organically. Simply being present in the Lower East Side of NYC for over 100 years means a lot of artists, creatives, and musicians have walked through our doors. Including ones who lived here and started their careers many years ago, and eventually went on to become famous. Many of these people enjoyed eye exams from my father or conversations with my grandfather in The Shop. Many of them have remained extremely loyal to our family and our brand and love the product and service we offer. Truly, we are grateful for every customer and treating everyone with equal respect and fairness, regardless of their celebrity status, is a key principle of our family values.
As we approach spring and summer 2023, what are some top trends in eyewear, and, with this in mind, which MOSCOT glasses would you recommend we add to our eyewear collection?
Go big and go bold! The thicker and chunkier the better, like our new styles the FOYGEL or the TINIF. And while you’re at it, pop on a splash of colour with Custom Made Tints™! Tints are so much fun and there’s no better way to spice up your wardrobe with a blue or purple tint that you can wear outside to inside as you hang through happy hour and the sunsets.
Where do you expect MOSCOT to be in 10 years’ time? (And, personal-interest question: will we ever see a dedicated brick-and-mortar MOSCOT boutique in Vancouver?!)
My father and I work tirelessly to build our business while remaining mindful of our core values and not getting out too far beyond our skis, so to speak. We’re quite deliberate with our business decisions and in everything we do we try to retain the familial feeling that we believe sets us apart. We will continue to keep product design, quality, and service at the top of our list and do our best to ensure the MOSCOT experience remains authentic and memorable. We would love to come to Vancouver, we just need to find the right fit!
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