D. Turin & Company Celebrates 100 Years of Family Tradition, Craftsmanship & Innovation
The Floridant/10347137

HIALEAH, Fla. - Floridant -- This year, we at D. Turin & Company are proud to celebrate our 100th anniversary, marking a full century of craftsmanship, customer service, family tradition, and dedication to America's fraternal organizations.

Our story began in 1926, when David Turin brought his skills as a tailor and master embroidery artist to New York City. What began as an opportunity to provide intricate hand embroidery for Shriners' fezzes ultimately became a family business that would span four generations and serve customers across the country and, eventually, around the world.

Today, we remain proudly family owned and operated, and we recognize that reaching this milestone would never have been possible without the people who have been part of our journey.

"Our success is built on the dedication of our exceptional employees and the continued support of our valued customers," said President David Plask, fourth-generation owner of D. Turin & Company.

From a New York Tailor to a Century-Old American Business

For us, celebrating 100 years is also an opportunity to look back at the remarkable story of how D. Turin began.

Past partner and third-generation owner Martin Mendelson recalls the story of his grandfather, David Turin, who was a tailor by trade in Poland before bringing those skills with him to New York.

"A group of Shriners asked if he could do the intricate hand embroidery on the group's fezzes," Mendelson recalled. "He was a master embroidery artist, so this seemed like a perfect opportunity."

As demand grew, David Turin's sons-in-law, Bill Edelmann and Herb Mendelson, joined the rapidly expanding business. They recognized that there was a much larger market for Shriners' fezzes, embroidered shirts, hats, and other products throughout the United States. They took to the road to meet customers and developed relationships with Shriner officers at national and regional conventions.

Those relationships became the foundation for generations of growth.

"When David Turin started his tailoring business in New York City in 1926, he never could have imagined how his business would grow and continue for 100 years," said Ron Plask, third-generation owner. "As many businesses come and go, the fact that D. Turin Co., being a family business now in its fourth generation, has reached this milestone is a testament to the hard work and strong customer relationships we have developed over the past 100 years."

Plask added that reaching a century in business makes D. Turin particularly unusual.

"Less than 1% of business start-ups last a century," he said. "Our company is truly unique, having solid leadership and dedicated management dealing with the many situations and changes that have occurred over so many years."

Four Generations of Finding New Opportunities

Our company has never grown by simply doing things the way they have always been done. Each generation has respected the traditions established before it while finding new opportunities to serve customers.

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Over the years, succeeding generations expanded our reach beyond the Shriners to other fraternal organizations, including Elks USA, Moose, Prince Hall Shriners, Freemasons, Scottish Rite, Order of the Eastern Star, and many others.

As members of the Plask family, including Kenny, David, and Jaci, became involved in the company, D. Turin also began providing embroidered shirts, caps, jackets, and other apparel for local South Florida municipal agencies.

"It seems each new generation finds new ways to increase the business," Mendelson said. "David Turin would be proud."

For 100 years, that willingness to evolve has gone hand in hand with something much simpler: treating customers, employees, and business partners well.

As Mendelson put it, "Treating people as you would want to be treated is always a good strategy."

The People Behind 100 Years of D. Turin

While four generations of family ownership are an important part of our story, D. Turin's longevity has depended just as much on the employees who have brought their skills, pride, and commitment to work every day.

For longtime employee Sophia Erblat, more than two decades with D. Turin have provided a firsthand look at what has allowed the company to endure.

"Having had the privilege of witnessing more than two decades of D. Turin & Co.'s remarkable 100-year journey, I've come to appreciate that what makes this company special goes far beyond the products we make," Erblat said. "It's the people, the pride in our work, and an unwavering commitment to quality that have stood the test of time."

That combination of craftsmanship and relationships has helped us maintain customer connections that extend across generations.

Pierre E. Rutledge described the company's centennial as a reflection of something larger than business longevity.

"For 100 years, D. Turin & Co. has built confidence, created opportunity, and become a cornerstone of our community, reflecting generations of excellence, resilience, and service," Rutledge said. "Congratulations on this centennial milestone. May the next 100 years inspire innovation, empower people, and build an even greater legacy."

Customer Richard Lynn similarly pointed to the people behind D. Turin's century of service.

"One hundred years of successful production and service, especially to fraternal organizations, is a remarkable accomplishment," Lynn said. "It is a great family business run by professional, accommodating, and cheerful employees. David, you did a great job nurturing this company to great success. Congratulations on your 100th anniversary."

Celebrating Our History While Investing in Our Future

Reaching 100 years gives us an opportunity to celebrate where we have been, but we believe one of the best ways to honor that history is to continue building for the future.

One of the most exciting parts of that future is the continued expansion of our Custom Embroidery Division.

By investing in state-of-the-art embroidery equipment, in-house digitizing capabilities, and experienced production specialists, we are expanding our ability to provide professional custom embroidery for businesses, municipalities, schools, first responders, sports teams, corporate apparel programs, fraternal groups, and organizations of virtually every size.

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Our embroidery services include custom polos, uniforms, jackets, hats, bags, patches, promotional apparel, and much more. Whether a customer needs a small number of customized garments or a large-scale corporate apparel program, our goal remains the same: deliver outstanding workmanship and make the ordering process as dependable and personal as possible.

Modern embroidery technology has dramatically expanded what we can create, but the philosophy behind our work has not changed. We bring the same attention to detail to an embroidered company logo today that our founder brought to the intricate hand embroidery that helped launch D. Turin a century ago.

That connection between old and new is especially meaningful as our fourth generation leads D. Turin into its second century.

"Our growing custom embroidery division represents an exciting new chapter for D. Turin, allowing us to serve not only fraternal organizations but also businesses, schools, municipalities, and organizations seeking premium embroidered apparel and promotional products," said President David Plask. "We're excited about what the future holds."

A Reputation That Extends Beyond Our Customers

Our 100-year history has also given us the opportunity to develop lasting relationships with the vendors and business partners who help us serve our customers.

Vendor Paul Perry said D. Turin's longevity reflects the principles that have guided the Plask family through four generations.

"Congratulations to D. Turin on an incredible milestone—100 years in business," Perry said. "Reaching a full century of success in our industry is a rare achievement and a true testament to the values, integrity, and hard work that have defined the Plask family. Through four generations, the family has provided stellar products and service to their customers and is a true example of doing the right thing. Here's to many more years of success!"

Looking Ahead to Our Second Century

Few businesses have the opportunity to celebrate 100 years, and we do not take this milestone for granted.

Our century-long history has been made possible by the family members who carried the company forward, the employees who have dedicated their talents to our work, the vendors and partners who have supported us, and, above all, the customers and organizations that have placed their trust in D. Turin generation after generation.

The products we make have changed and expanded considerably since David Turin first put his embroidery skills to work for a group of Shriners in New York. The technology we use today would have been unimaginable in 1926. But the fundamental principles behind our business remain remarkably familiar: do excellent work, take care of people, build lasting relationships, and always look for ways to do better.

As we enter our second century, we intend to keep doing exactly that.

We will continue producing the custom fezzes, fraternal regalia, and ceremonial products that have been at the heart of D. Turin for generations while expanding our custom embroidery, apparel, promotional product, and printing capabilities for customers across the country.

One hundred years after David Turin started his business, we are proud to continue the work he began.

We are grateful for our first century—and we are excited to see where the next one takes us.

About D. Turin & Company

We are D. Turin & Company, a fourth-generation, family-owned American manufacturer founded in 1926. From our headquarters in Hialeah, Florida, we specialize in custom fezzes, fraternal regalia, ceremonial accessories, custom embroidery, embroidered apparel, promotional products, and direct-to-garment printing.