1932
joseph & feiss co.
For immigrants, a job at Joseph & Feiss Co. meant understanding the fabric of America. Employees at the factory specializing in men's suits had to "learn to talk and think United States." That translates to stressing Americanization to the 2,000 mostly Jewish "girl needle-workers" with cultural offerings including a barber shop, a swimming pool and four bowling alleys. The upper floor of the West 53rd Street headquarters was equipped with 750 sewing machines, electric automatic weighing machines and cotton cloth shrinking machines that turned out 10,000 yards of fabric per day. Joseph & Feiss Co. merged with Van Heusen and was acquired by Hugo Boss, which now makes upscale men's clothing in Brooklyn.
