Etienne Aigner Bags and Purses

Etienne Aigner purses were designed by their namesake who was born in Hungary, in 1904.  Aigner began working with leather while still a teenager, working as a bookbinder to support himself.  His creativity developed as he invented new binding methods and experimented with making his own paper.

During the thirties, Etienne Aigner moved to Paris with his brother Lucien, who was yet to become a well known photojournalist and continued working as a bookbinder until the start of World War II.  Aigner learned the latest techniques for treating and working with leather during this period.  Aigner fled Paris when the German occupation began and in 1943 headed for the mountains with French Resistance forces.

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 Aigner returned to Paris after the war and embarked on a career in fashion after abandoning his bookbinding career.  He applied his leatherworking skills to create fine belts and handbags, selling them to retailers such as Dior, Lanvin, and Rochas.  Aigner moved to New York in 1950 where he presented a collection of leather goods under his own name, the beginning of the Etienne Aigner purse brand.

Aigner designed a stylized version of his initial, the letter “A” in the form of a horseshoe.  Aigner sold his designs to a local New York manufacturer but found that his handcrafted approach clashed with the mass production ideas of the New York fashion industry. Aigner decided to set up his own business in his bedroom where he began by making belts in a single color, the signature rich burgundy leather that Aigner is famous for, because it was the only leather he could afford. 

His belts were well received by the public and were featured in many leading department stores by the mid-fifties. As Etienne’s financial situation improved he was able to expand the colors of leather that he could offer and added hemp materials to the Aigner product line.  The fine quality of his goods won him the nickname The Man with the Golden Hands.

 Aigner sold his interest in the US based Etienne Aigner in 1967 but retained the European rights to his name. Etienne continued to work as a consultant abroad and pursued his other creative interests, painting, and cabinetmaking until his death in New York in 2000.  Etienne Aigner passed away three days before what would have been his 96th birthday. 

In addition to the signature burgundy leather Aigner purses that are still available today, Etienne Aigner purses are available in “A Logo” designs.  The A Logo satchel is a fabric Aigner purse with leather trim.  The Etienne Aigner Core Classic Tote is a more traditional Aigner purse.  This Signature burgundy leather bag is a classic Aigner purse.  It has quality details such a front and back compartments with magnetic snap closures.  The center compartment has a zip closure and the satin interior lining has a back wall zip pocket and multifunctional slip pockets.

Etienne Aigner’s influence lives on in the company that bears his name.  Aigner purses have remained popular over the years because the company remained committed to Etienne Aigner’s three founding principles: classic fashion, real value, and quality that lasts.