MOSCOT brings heritage eyewear to London
What started as one-man-band selling frames from an old pushcart in New York City more than 100 years ago, MOSCOT has become a global name in fashion-forward eyewear, motivated by its humble beginnings and infectious character.
Great grandpa Hyman was the brand’s originator. Landing on Ellis Island as an Eastern European immigrant in 1899, he first took to the streets of downtown Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 1915, selling optical frames from the pushcart that now serves as the brand’s recognisable logo.
Fast-forward four generations and we have Hyman’s great grandson Harvey at the helm, along with heir apparent Zachary, and a growing empire of eclectic and authentic shops across the globe.
The latest offer resides at 37 Beak Street in the heart of London’s Soho district, and a few steps away from the globally iconic Carnaby Street, a shop that has already started to make waves as an eye-catching and original slice of New York City right on our doorstep. Indeed, MOSCOT London is escapism to the Big Apple, and a genuinely unique experience.
An abundance of MOSCOT’s iconic optical and sun frames adorn the walls and counter, but there is an immediate sense of being somewhere quite different. Photographs of the likes of Johnny Depp, Terry Richardson, Lady Gaga and Ruby Rose wearing MOSCOT hang proudly, as well as MOSCOT’s signature mannequin heads dressed with key product.
The brand now has three shops in New York City, one in Tokyo (Japan), another in Seoul (South Korea), and now one in London, each shop carrying quirky touches including heritage frames, family photos, old furniture, and tchotchkes (small miscellaneous items – the name common in regional New York speech), with the brand’s signature colours, bold yellow and black featured throughout.
The brand also regularly holds bespoke acoustic sets in their flagship shop’s “MOSCOT Gallery & Music Space” – music being a strong running theme for the brand globally.
Fourth generation owner Harvey Moscot says; “MOSCOT is a real family business with the community at its heart – it was and a will always be the local optical shop.”
“We sell great frames, combined with superior customer service – what we call the MOSCOT MX – in a setting informed by our 100 year heritage.
As we open into new markets, the most important thing to us is that we keep our identity — the core values and DNA that formed who we are today,” he adds.
Showcasing both core and seasonal frames, MOSCOT eyewear encompasses classic styles with a twist of modernity, with frames including The AIDIM, KEPPE and ZAYDE from its latest Fall Collection, as well as the MOSCOT Spirit Collection, which includes The ARTHUR, PAT, and PETIE.