Leiber, Judith (1921-2018)

Dates

• Existence: 1921-2018

Biography

Judith Leiber was a designer of high-end handbags. She was born on January 11, 1921 in Budapest, Hungary to a wealthy family. She apprenticed herself to an artisan guild where she mastered handbag design and construction. After surviving persecution during WWII, Leiber moved to New York in 1947 with her new husband, Brooklyn native Gerson (Gus) Leiber. In the U.S. Judith Leiber started working for handbag manufacturers. In 1963, her husband encouraged her to start her own company, which she did. She is perhaps most known for her crystal minaudières bags, a favorite of celebrities and First Ladies. Her elaborate, colorful, meticulously constructed designs sold internationally to an elite clientele for as much as $4,000. The company "Time Products, London" purchased Leiber’s firm in 1993. She stayed on as president and designer until 1998 when she retired. The company still produces luxury handbags and has boutiques in department stores and stand-alone shops in New York. Leiber was the first handbag designer to be awarded the Coty American Fashion Critics Award in 1973. Leiber passed away on April 28, 2018.

Places

• Budapest, Hungary New York, NY, USA

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