EYES on MOSCOT Autumn 2023

Before Jez opened EYES on St Albans back in 2018, he was working for MOSCOT in Soho.  You might also have noticed a couple of new MOSCOT graphics appearing on the shop windows over the last months.

MOSCOT are a true family business and make Jez’s 40 years in the industry look very short term!  Hyman Moscot arrived in New York from Eastern Europe in 1899, via the Ellis Island Immigration Centre.  He began selling ready made ‘eyeglasses’ from a pushcart on Orchard Street on Manhatten’s Lower East Side.

In 1915, Hyman was able to open his first shop in Rivington Street where they remained until 1925 when Sol Moscot joined the family business (aged just 15) and they decided on a shop in Orchard Street – moving only from number 118 to number 94 in 2021. 

Sol’s son Joel joined the business in 1951 and now with 4^th generation Moscot (Harvey) as CEO and 5^th generation Zack as current Chief Design Officer, we think Hyman would be pretty proud.

NYC to Marshalswick?

As we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Jez had a really clear plan which collections of frames he wanted to stock at EYES on St Albans when he opened.  The vibrant colours of Kirk & Kirk were on the list and MOSCOT, with their phenomenal attention to detail, fashion focussed and brilliant engineering were there too.

Every aspect of a MOSCOT frame has a function and has been engineered to make the frames as sturdy and easy to wear as possible.  That’s our kind of design.  We don’t want flimsy frames and we know that it becomes really hard to wear your glasses if they don’t feel comfortable.

We’re very proud to be the stockist of the largest range of MOSCOT frames outside their shops in London – and the only one in St Albans.

Have I seen anyone wearing MOSCOT?

MOSCOT are a cool brand and whilst retaining their ‘we’re a local optician’ vibe in their Orchard Street shop, they have stores across the world and a veritable host of high-profile clients.  On a recent trip to Ireland, King Charles III was photographed wearing the MOSCOT LEMTOSH sunglasses – a style also favoured by footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Nick Jonas (of The Jonas Brothers). 

Other celebrities spotted in MOSCOT include Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, Helena Bonham-Carter, Niall Horan, Seth Rogen, Woody Allen, Ryan Gosling and Tom Hanks. 

Mads Mikkelsen wore two MOSCOT frames in his role as Jűrgen Voller in Indiana Jones and the Dial Of Destiny – if they can survive life there, they must be good!

Add a bit of Rock & Roll

4^th generation Moscot CEO Dr Harvey is not only a practicing Doctor of Optometry, he also founded MOSCOT music in 2004 when he started jamming on his guitar on a wet Saturday afternoon.  Guests lined up, staff members joined in and 5^th generation Zack took to the stage – and it all continued from there.  Now, MOSCOT Music is a regular thing and brings fans of great eyewear and great music together – from across the world.

Harvey Moscot also founded the charity MOSCOT Mobileyes which provides free quality medical eyecare and eye wear to New York City’s underserved populations – helping to preserve sight and reduce instances of preventable blindness.

Pretty logical that EYES on St Albans stock MOSCOT really.  Pop in if you’re ready to try their iconic look – the MOSCOT Autumn 2023 collection is looking (pun intended) fabulous.