- Judith Leiber
Judith Leiber (born Judith Peto in 1921 in
Budapest, Hungary ) is a world-renowned designer ofhaute couture handbag s.Judith Peto was the first woman to join the handbag-makers guild in Budapest. A
Jew , she escaped theHolocaust ofWorld War II to the safety of the Swiss house when her father was able to obtain a Swiss schutzpass, a document that gave the bearer safe passage(this pass is on view at the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC).After the war, she began making handbags at home and then at a friend's small factory. She met and married an American soldier, Gerson Leiber, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1948.
After working as a handbag designer for other companies, Judith Leiber founded her own business in 1963 and quickly established herself as an industry leader at the cutting edge of luxurious fashion. Sold at exclusive boutiques around the world, her handbags cost several thousand dollars and have become a status symbol for many women including several Presidential First Ladies.
The Judith Leiber boutiques are exclusive as there are only five in the
United States , located inAtlanta , Las Vegas (2 locations), Orange County, andNew York City .Awards
In 1994, Judith Leiber received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers. Classic examples of her work can be found on permanent display at the
Smithsonian inWashington, DC , theMetropolitan Museum of Art inNew York City , and at theVictoria and Albert Museum in London, UK. She retired in 1998.In September 2008, Judith Leiber was rated the most prestigious luxury handbag brand for the second year running by the New York-based Luxury Institute. [cite news |url=http://bagbunch.com/judith-leiber-named-best-luxury-bag-brand/
title=Judith Leiber Haute Couture Fashion Label Named Best Luxury Designer Bag Brand |accessdate=2008-09-04 ]References
* [http://www.gopjn.com/t/Pzo_Qj86QUJBOj5BQw Judith Leiber Official Site]
* [http://www.judithleiber.com/profile/ Judith Leiber profile]
* [http://www.leibermuseum.org/ The Leiber Collection - Judith and Gerson Leiber's website]
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