Judith Leiber
Judith Leiber | |
---|---|
Born | Judit Pető January 11, 1921 |
Died | April 28, 2018 Springs, New York, U.S. | (aged 97)
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Founder of Judith Leiber |
Spouse | |
Website | JudithLeiber.com |
Judith Leiber (born Judit Pető; January 11, 1921 – April 28, 2018)[1] was a Hungarian-American fashion designer and businesswoman.
Life and career
Leiber was born Judit Pető in 1921 in
She returned to Hungary before World War II, where thanks to family connections[3] she obtained a traineeship at a handbag company, where she learned to cut and mold leather, make patterns, frame and stitch bags. She was the first woman graduated to master craftswoman, becoming the first woman to join the Hungarian Handbag Guild in Budapest.[4]
She avoided Nazi persecution when she escaped the
In December 1944, those living in the apartment were taken to one of the Hungarian Nazi-run ghettos. After the liberation of Hungary by the Red Army, Leiber's family moved into a basement with 60 other people.[3]
In 1946, she married
Fashion career
After working as a handbag designer for other companies, Leiber founded her own business in 1963. She is known for her crystal minaudières, evening purses made of a metal shell often encrusted with
In 1992, Leiber received the Golden Plate Award of the
The Leibers bought property in Springs, New York in 1956 and it became their primary residence in 2011.[8] In 2005 they opened the Leiber Museum across the street from their home to display the bags as well as paintings by Gerson Leiber.[9] The Leibers sought to buy back an example of all of the purses to be displayed at the museum.[5] The museum also displays various awards including the 1973 Coty Award.
Stores
The Judith Leiber boutiques are exclusive as there are only four in the world. They are located in New Delhi, Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. However, some of her collection is available at selected fashion stores like Neiman Marcus, Harvey Nichols, Lane Crawford, Holt Renfrew, Harrods, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Death
Leiber died at her home in Springs, New York, on April 28, 2018, just a few hours after her husband Gerson Leiber had died.[10]
References
- ^ Leiber, Judith M. "United States Public Records Index". familysearch.org.
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(help) - ^ joeyjojojr01 (April 24, 2013). "Legendary Handbag Designer Discusses Life, Love and First Ladies - Jewish Exponent". jewishexponent.com. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c "How Judith Leiber Survived the Holocaust to Become a Celebrity Handbag Icon". harpersbazaar.com. August 24, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Judith Leiber - Jewish Women's Archive". jwa.org. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ a b Lagnado, Lucette (September 13, 2010). "Purse Pursuit: Designer Embarks on a Shopping Spree to Bag Her Own Bags". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 4, 2018 – via www.wsj.com.
- American Academy of Achievement.
- ^ "Judith Leiber Haute Couture Fashion Label Named Best Luxury Designer Bag Brand". Retrieved September 4, 2008.
- ^ Strugatch, Warren (April 4, 2018). "Judith and Gerson Leiber: 70 Years of Marriage, Fashion and Art". The New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2018 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Leiber Collection". www.leibermuseum.org. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ Vecsey, Taylor K. (April 29, 2018). "Famed Evening Bag Designer Judith Leiber and Artist Husband Die Hours Apart". The East Hampton Star. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2021.