Jacob H. Horwitz
Jacob H. Horwitz | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 January 1892 London, United Kingdom |
| Died | 11 October 1992 (aged 100) Lawrence, Nassau County, New York, United States |
| Other names | Jack Horwitz |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist, fashion stylist |
| Years active | 1925–1970 |
| Known for | Founder of Horwitz & Duberman; pioneer in junior miss fashion market; founder of Long Island Jewish Medical Center |
Jacob H. Horwitz (January 1, 1892 – October 11, 1992), commonly known as Jack, was an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and trailblazer in fashion. His enterprise, Horwitz and Duberman, established in 1925, was a pioneer in specializing in apparel for junior miss and teenage customers.
Early life
Horwitz was born in London and immigrated to the United States during childhood with support from the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. He completed his education in Connecticut by 1910. Although initially intending to study engineering at Yale University, he instead started a grocery store in Manhattan, which eventually failed while he was serving in the military. Horwitz enlisted with the National Guard of the United States under John J. Pershing during the Pancho Villa Expedition, later serving as a sergeant and cavalryman in World War I stationed in France.
Fashion
In 1925, Horwitz partnered with Duberman, an immigrant from Ukraine-Russia, to establish Horwitz & Duberman. The company began by manufacturing shirtwaists, which Horwitz creatively transformed into dresses. Identifying an underserved demographic, they launched the "Judy and Jill Fashions" line aimed at teenage girls and young women, effectively creating the junior miss market niche. By 1939, their product range grew to include dresses endorsed by actress Deanna Durbin, leveraging celebrity branding.
Horwitz earned the distinguished Coty Award for junior fashion in 1947 alongside notable designers such as Nettie Rosenstein and Adele Simpson. He attributed his achievements to nurturing emerging talent, employing and guiding women in both design and sales roles. While involved in design decisions, Horwitz saw himself primarily as a stylist who curated collections based on his team’s creative work. A 1953 LIFE article featured a capsule wardrobe created for Horwitz & Duberman, highlighting practical and innovative fashion concepts.
During the early 1950s, Horwitz took full ownership of the business and renamed it Jack Horwitz Associates. He stepped back from daily operations by 1960 but remained active as a consultant in coat manufacturing until retiring completely in 1970.
Philanthropy
Horwitz is well-known for founding the Long Island Jewish Medical Center in 1949, where he served on the board for over four decades, maintaining active involvement into his nineties. He also played a role in establishing the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and contributed significantly to its fundraising campaigns. Furthermore, Horwitz supported and held leadership positions within the Fashion Institute of Technology, the American Legion, and multiple Jewish organizations such as HIAS, the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, the Five Towns Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association, as well as Temple Israel synagogue located in Lawrence, Long Island.
Later life and death
Horwitz was married to Rose Greenberger for nearly six decades until her death in 1986. He passed away at his residence in Lawrence, Nassau County, New York at age 100 on October 11, 1992 due to congestive heart failure.