Hagley Library recently acquired the Kozinn + Sons Merchant Tailors records, now open for research thanks to archival processing intern Darby Ronning. For over a century, Kozinn + Sons was a New York City–based tailored clothing company led by three generations of the Kozinn family. Founded in 1913 as the Independent Trouser Company, for much of its history the company operated under the name Saunt Lurie Limited.
Pictured, right: Three generations of Kozinn's: Jake, Murray, and Andy.
Throughout it's long history, the business continually adapted to shifting trends, moving from slacks to complete suits, then to wholesale menswear, direct-to-consumer retail, custom tailoring, and eventually costume work for film and theater. Andy Kozinn, grandson of the founder, joined the company full-time in 1976 and served as CEO from 1980 until the company was sold in 2018. His wife, Carey Graeber, joined in the 1980s and helped launch the company's line of tailored suits for women.
The collection's business records capture both the administrative side of running the company and the tailoring process itself, including print and radio advertisements, fabric swatches, employee photographs, property documents, market research, correspondence, legal papers, and financial statements.
A highlight of the collection is its material from the company's film, television, and theatrical work: costume specifications, fitting sheets, and fabric boards. Kozinn + Sons played a major role in constructing costumes for the Broadway musical Jersey Boys and its subsequent tours. 
Pictured, right: Jake Kozinn and Leonardo DiCarptio. Kozinn fitted DiCaprio for the film Revolutionary Road, release in 2008.
The collection also includes eight articles of clothing, each a standout piece representative of the era in which it was made. One illustrates the company's work for the Hollywood industry: a suit jacket and dress shirt made for Gonzo of the Muppets.
Hagley is currently conducting oral histories about the Kozinn family's story. In addition, we are curating a selection of material from the collection for digitization and addition to our digital archives.
The combination of business records, tailoring materials, and finished garments makes the Kozinn + Sons collection a valuable addition to Hagley's holdings. It shows how ideas moved from sketches and fabric samples to finished clothing and, in some cases, onto the stage or screen. More broadly, the collection traces the evolution of a New York family business as it navigated changing fashions, markets, and cultural tastes across more than a century of American commerce.
Access the finding aid for the Kozinn + Sons Merchant Tailors Records
A big thank you to Andy Kozinn and Carey Graeber for entrusting their collection to Hagley and for their generous support.
Laurie Sather is the Head of Technical Services at the Hagley Library