Did you know that the iconic handbag designer Judith Lieber was a Holocaust survivor? Leiber (née Peto) was born in Budapest, Hungary and became the first master craftswoman in the Hungarian Handbag Guild. During the war, the Peto family managed to obtain a Schutzpass (Swiss Pass), allowing them to live in a Swiss-protected building until they were herded into the Budapest Ghetto in late 1944. Hiding in a cellar with 60 others, Judith got through the misery by designing handbags in her head.
After the war, she married American GI Gerson Leiber and together they moved to New York. Leiber dove into the fashion world, eventually starting her own brand and company with her husband. She designed bags for numerous celebrities, including 6 U.S. First Ladies, Queen Elizabeth II, and Elizabeth Taylor.
Leiber passed away in 2018, but she will forever be remembered for transforming a simple utilitarian accessory into a dazzling work of art and luxury. Her crystal-embellished handbags continue to sparkle on red carpets and in museum collections around the world, and her incredible legacy of resilience and creativity live on.
Source: Jill Goltzer
Photo: judithlieber.com
