About Judith leiber
Judith Leiber founded her eponymous handbag company in 1963 after a career designing handbags for other brands. Leiber brought a sense of humor and whimsy to evening bags, creating crystal-encrusted minaudières in the shape of animals, food, and other everyday objects like roller skates and cupcakes. These novelty bags became her signature style.
Leiber's first designs included small, elegant minaudières with metal frames and decorative elements like crystals and semi-precious stones. Unique shapes like eggs, hearts, and animals differentiated the bags from typical rectangular clutches of the era. The metal frames allowed the bags to fully open, making them functional as well as ornamental.
Judith Leiber's brand philosophy centered around bringing a playful glamour and a spirit of joy to accessories. She felt that handbags should be fun as well as beautiful. This inspired her to create whimsical bag shapes decorated with Austrian crystals and other opulent materials.
Over the years, Leiber expanded on her signature minaudières to create additional playful shapes such as fruits, flowers, and lipsticks. The brand also introduced more traditional handbags like small shoulder bags and totes, rendered in exquisite materials with crystal and bead embellishments.
Judith Leiber's most iconic bags include the crystal-covered mini cupcakes, cats, and roller skates. Carried by celebrities and First Ladies, these creations combine glamour with a sense of humor and surprise that captures the essence of the brand.
In 1998, Leiber sold her company to Time Products but remained the creative director until her retirement in 2013. Under new ownership, the brand continues to release new interpretations of Leiber's classics along with more contemporary bag styles.