Leiber, Judith

(1921- )

   Born in Budapest as Judith Petro, she married a U.S. soldier from New York in 1946. After working in handbag factories for years in various positions, Leiber and her husband founded Judith Leiber, Inc., in 1963. The company's minaudière bags are easily identifiable due to their heavily jeweled surfaces. Leiber's bags are often inspired by animals, fruits, or trompe l'oeil objects. Her bags are considered collectors' items. Lieber also creates traditional style bags made from luxury skins as well as velvet and silk. In 1993, the British watch company, Time Products, acquired the Leiber name and, in 1998, Judith Leiber retired. The company was taken over by the private equity firm of Pegasus Capitol Advisors in 2002. By 2006, the Judith Leiber company realized that its bags were no longer a must-have of the young and chic social scene. The company began using young socialites in its promotional pieces in an effort to capture its present and future target market.

   See also Accessories.