Boston's Favorite Fashion Designer Pivots During Covid
Fashion Designer David Josef was 21 years old in 1978 when he opened his namesake boutique in Lexington. It wasn’t long before he had a shop in Copley Square and became the go-to designer for Boston’s TV stars including Liz Walker, Eileen Prose and Janet Langhart.
In the ‘80s, Bonwit Teller picked up his line, and soon many upscale department stores (e.g. Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s,) also started to carry Josef’s signature fashion. He dressed Massachusetts First Lady, Kitty Dukakis, Boston First Lady, Angela Menino, actress Judith Light, and opened a second showroom on New York’s Seventh Avenue. Heady times!
By now you might think Josef’s entrepreneurial spirit would be waning, but he is still moving full speed ahead. Prior to the pandemic, he could be found designing dresses for legendary Four-time Grammy nominated, and Tony Award winning Melba Moore, and singer Melissa Manchester, and running his vibrant wedding and special event dress business. COVID struck and, like so much else, Josef’s business was put on hold. So, after eating three or four pizzas, Josef got down to pivoting. He and his husband, Daniel Forrester, started creating masks for hospital and other essential workers, and before you knew it, David Josef Masks was born. A great story of entrepreneurship, creativity, ambition, philanthropy, and...overeating!
Click on the image above to hear the story of his journey in David’s own, always entertaining, words.
You can purchase David Josef Masks on Facebook at:
