MOSCOT: New York Eyewear Heritage, Five Generations Strong

There is a particular kind of authority that only comes from time, from decades of the same family, in the same neighbourhood, refining the same craft. MOSCOT carries that authority in every frame. Born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and still run today by the very family that founded it, MOSCOT is one of the very few eyewear houses in the world that can claim an unbroken lineage stretching back to the turn of the twentieth century, a heritage that has made its silhouettes part of the visual language of New York itself.

Mondello1962 has selected MOSCOT for clients who understand that true legacy cannot be manufactured overnight, the same conviction that has guided our own boutique since 1962. Choosing MOSCOT means choosing a frame with history already written into its DNA, worn by generations of New Yorkers long before it became a global icon.

The MOSCOT Story: from a Pushcart on Orchard Street to a Global Icon

The MOSCOT story begins in 1899, when Hyman Moscot, a young Eastern European immigrant who had just arrived in New York through Ellis Island, began selling ready-made eyeglasses from a wooden pushcart on Orchard Street, in the heart of the Lower East Side. Sixteen years later, in 1915, having built a loyal following among the neighbourhood's immigrant community, Hyman opened the family's first shop at 94 Rivington Street, the official birth of the MOSCOT name.

What followed is a rare story of continuity: Hyman's son Sol joined the business in 1925 at just fifteen years old, moving the shop in 1935 to its now-legendary location at 118 Orchard Street, on the corner of Delancey, an address the brand would call home for nearly eighty years. Sol's son Joel led the company for over fifty years, guiding it through the decades when eyewear manufacturing shifted overseas while preserving the silhouettes that had made the brand famous. The fourth generation, brothers Harvey and Kenny Moscot, transformed the neighbourhood shop into a global brand in the early 2000s, and today Zack Moscot, of the fifth generation, serves as Chief Design Officer, proof that MOSCOT remains, after more than a century, a genuinely family-run house.

A New York Icon: MOSCOT in Culture

Few eyewear brands have become as woven into the cultural fabric of a city as MOSCOT has with New York. Its early Orchard Street storefront, with its giant painted eyes and glasses, is even rumoured to have inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald's iconic image of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg's billboard in The Great Gatsby. Over the decades, MOSCOT frames have appeared on some of the most recognisable faces in modern culture, from John Lennon, Andy Warhol and Al Pacino to more recent appearances on screen, including Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer and Paul Dano as the Riddler in The Batman. It is a rare achievement for an eyewear house: to be simultaneously a piece of quiet local history and an instantly recognisable global icon.

Handcrafted Frames, Period-Accurate Details

Every MOSCOT frame is designed and prototyped in New York, then handcrafted using premium materials and the same period-accurate construction techniques that have defined the brand since its earliest decades: authentic cable temples, hand-set rivets securely staked through the front and temples for lasting durability, traditional metal hardware, and genuine mineral glass lenses in shades that precisely replicate the brand's historical colour formulas dating back to the 1940s.

The collection is organised into two core lines. MOSCOT Originals™ draws directly from the family archive, preserving the exact period details and proportions of the brand's most historic silhouettes. The MOSCOT Spirit Collection shares the same DNA, materials, hardware and colour palette, while introducing new shapes designed for contemporary faces and tastes.

Iconic Models: Lemtosh, Miltzen and Nebb

Three silhouettes, more than any others, have come to define the MOSCOT identity:

• Lemtosh: Perhaps the most recognisable eyeglass silhouette to come out of New York in the last century. A rounded, keyhole-bridge frame born in the 1950s, worn by cultural figures from Johnny Depp to Robert Downey Jr., and instantly identifiable as a piece of authentic Americana.
• Miltzen: A classic round frame with a distinctive browline detail, one of the brand's earliest and most enduring archetypes, tracing back to the 1930s.
• Nebb: A refined panto silhouette that balances vintage character with understated elegance, a favourite among those who want the MOSCOT DNA in a slightly more discreet form.

Many models are also available with Custom Made Tints™, hand-dipped lenses in more than twenty unique colourways produced in New York, a distinctly MOSCOT way of adding a personal signature to a historic shape.

Why Buy MOSCOT at Mondello1962

Bringing MOSCOT into our boutique reflects a deep affinity between two family stories: MOSCOT has safeguarded its New York eyewear heritage across five generations since 1899, just as Mondello1962 has cultivated its own tradition of expertise and personalised service since 1962. Our team, present at the most important industry trade shows in Milan, Paris and New York, selects each MOSCOT model personally, ensuring authenticity, official warranty and access to the brand's most coveted silhouettes and limited editions.

Through our complete suite of professional optical services, including eye examinations and our in-house laboratory, every MOSCOT frame can be fitted with prescription lenses tailored to your individual vision while fully preserving the period-accurate proportions and hardware that define the brand. Our opticians offer a personalised consultation to help you find the silhouette that best suits your face, and the piece of New York history you want to wear every day.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

When was MOSCOT founded?
MOSCOT's story begins in 1899, when Hyman Moscot began selling ready-made eyeglasses from a pushcart on Orchard Street in Manhattan. The family's first official shop opened in 1915 on Rivington Street, which is considered the brand's founding date.

Is MOSCOT still a family-owned company?
Yes. MOSCOT remains a family-run business to this day, now in its fifth generation, with Harvey Moscot serving as CEO and Zack Moscot as Chief Design Officer, continuing a legacy that began with their great-great-grandfather Hyman.

Where are MOSCOT frames made?
MOSCOT frames are designed and prototyped in New York City, where the brand also operates its own in-house optical laboratory for prescription lens production. Frame manufacturing follows the brand's historic construction standards, using authentic hardware, riveted hinges and period-accurate details.

What is the difference between MOSCOT Originals and MOSCOT Spirit?
MOSCOT Originals™ are drawn directly from the family archive, preserving the exact silhouettes and period details of the brand's historic frames. The MOSCOT Spirit Collection uses the same materials, hardware and colour palette but introduces new shapes for a more contemporary fit.

What is the most iconic MOSCOT model?
The Lemtosh is widely considered MOSCOT's signature silhouette — a rounded, keyhole-bridge frame born in the 1950s and worn by countless cultural figures over the decades, from Johnny Depp to Robert Downey Jr. in Oppenheimer.

What are MOSCOT Custom Made Tints™?
Custom Made Tints™ are hand-dipped, colour-tinted lenses produced in New York, available in more than twenty unique shades. They allow you to personalise a classic MOSCOT frame with a distinctive colour signature.

Can I fit prescription lenses on MOSCOT frames?
Absolutely. All MOSCOT frames are designed to accommodate prescription lenses. At the in-house laboratory of Mondello1962, we mount custom lenses according to your individual prescription while preserving the original period-accurate proportions of the frame.

Are MOSCOT frames unisex?
Many MOSCOT silhouettes, including the Lemtosh and the Miltzen, are essentially unisex archetypes worn by both men and women for decades. Our opticians can help you find the size and fit that suits you best.

Are MOSCOT frames covered by warranty?
Yes. Every MOSCOT frame purchased at Mondello1962 is 100% authentic and comes with the official manufacturer's warranty and certificate of authenticity.

How do I care for my MOSCOT frames?
We recommend cleaning the frame regularly with the chamois cloth provided, storing it in its protective case when not in use, and avoiding harsh chemicals or prolonged heat exposure. For periodic adjustments and professional refits, our opticians at Mondello1962 are always available.