From a Brooklyn paint store to a global leader in color technology.

In 1897, Joseph H. Lowenstein opened a small paint store on Throop Avenue in Brooklyn with just a few years of experience and five hundred dollars in his pocket. More than 125 years later, that modest beginning has evolved into Jos. H. Lowenstein & Sons, Inc. (JHL), an internationally recognized manufacturer of specialty dyes and color solutions serving the fur, hair, and leather industries.

Few manufacturers can point to a history that spans three centuries, and even fewer have remained family owned while continuing to adapt to changing technologies, markets, and customer needs. As the company grew, it expanded beyond Brooklyn, adding larger facilities, research laboratories, manufacturing capabilities, and an international distribution network while remaining rooted in New York City.

Each generation of the Lowenstein family has built upon the work of the last. During the mid-twentieth century, Steve Lowenstein helped guide the company through a period of technological advancement and international expansion, establishing a presence throughout Asia, Europe, Australia, South America, and the Middle East. In 1995, David Lowenstein joined the business, bringing specialized expertise in leather technology and continuing the company’s investment in research and product innovation. Today, JHL continues that legacy by combining more than a century of experience with a forward-looking approach to manufacturing and color science.

Color may be an art, but consistency is a science.

Behind every finished product is an enormous amount of research, testing, and refinement. At JHL, developing a new dye involves far more than creating the right shade. Chemists evaluate performance, consistency, durability, and application across a wide range of materials and manufacturing environments, ensuring products perform reliably long after they leave the laboratory.

One of the company’s most unique resources is its fully functioning hair salon located inside its Brooklyn headquarters. Rather than relying solely on laboratory testing, JHL evaluates new hair color formulations under real-world conditions. Friends, family members, and volunteers receive color treatments and return over the following weeks to discuss how the products performed after everyday life, from repeated washing and styling to swimming, exercising, and spending time in the sun. Those conversations become an important part of the company’s research and development process, helping scientists understand how products perform outside the lab before they reach customers.

That commitment to continuous improvement extends throughout the organization. JHL operates multiple research and quality control laboratories equipped with advanced analytical technology, supporting customers with everything from custom color formulation and product development to technical consultation and troubleshooting. Whether working with multinational manufacturers or small specialty businesses, the company’s focus remains the same: delivering consistent results backed by scientific expertise.

More than a century of innovation, with an eye on the future.

Longevity in manufacturing requires more than tradition. It requires a willingness to evolve.

Throughout its history, JHL has continually invested in new equipment, expanded manufacturing capabilities, and strengthened its global operations. The opening and expansion of its Belgrade manufacturing facility significantly increased production capacity while improving lead times for customers around the world. More recently, the company has invested in production efficiency, packaging, communications, and digital marketing to better support its growing international customer base.

Sustainability has also become an increasingly important part of that evolution. As customer expectations and environmental standards continue to change, JHL has focused on developing products and manufacturing practices that support a more responsible future while maintaining the performance and quality the company has built its reputation on.

More than 125 years after Joseph H. Lowenstein first opened his Brooklyn paint store, JHL continues to demonstrate that innovation and tradition are not competing ideas. They are complementary strengths. By combining generations of technical knowledge with ongoing investment in research, manufacturing, and customer service, the company has remained at the forefront of color technology while continuing to manufacture in the city where its story began.