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Location June 1949: Lewis Purses, Inc. Lewis Purses This ensemble was a collaborative effort for Fall 1936! The shape is great, but how is this bag standing?? Luggage and Leather Goods August 1936, page 36 Vogue ad from 1938 features a Lewis bag for Holiday giving in the lower right corner. Retailers in the 30's and 40's promoted monograms to personalize handbags and luggage. Monocraft was a major maker of these metal trims and often claimed the front cover of Luggage & Leather Goods, featuring bags by various manufacturers, embellished with thier monograms. This Lewis leather bag was one such example, included on the cover of the June 1942 issue of Luggage & Leather Goods. Luggage & Leather Goods June 1942 Lewis bag with Monocraft Initials graced the cover of the February 1942 issue of Luggage and Leather Goods. "Handbag Buyer" June 1949, page 29, gave "Autumn Hints" for 1949: "Horizontal lines ... slim or boxy ... small soft reptiles . . . outside pockets ... leather linings convertible shoulder straps for basic stock." This bag was designed to retail at $18.50 by Lewis Purses. That's equivalent to $139 in inflation adjusted 2006 dollars. A classified ad in the January 3, 1944 New York Times, pg. 34, sought women and girls for the Nat Lewis factory. "Girls, bright, light general work, air conditioned factory. Good pay, overtime Nat Lewis Purses 27 East 31st. Apply all day." "Rounded satchel, a spring success, repeated for fall in calf, suede, Kashmir or broadcloth. Horseshoe shaped boxy gussets are indented. Plenty of detail inside." The 1950s Bags for Spring 1956 were presented on January 3, 1956 by agreement as a member of the National Authority for the Ladies Handbag Industry. 1956NationalAuthorityMembers Handbag and Engineering are not often seen in the same sentence. But these amazing functional sculptures didn't just happen! Designers for improved materials like Onco to insure quality lasting construction. This full page ad features an innovative Lewis suede bags, double sides with a fixed rigid lucite handle. "Handbags & Accessories" August 1956, page 9. SHAPE OF THINGS...IN HANDBAG FASHIONEERING! ONCO gives you these big advantages for better handbags: ''"A LEWIS PURSE on your counter is a prophet of profit. Lewis gives you extra styling know-how, extra craftsmanship, and extra-popular pricing. See the complete line and stock Lewis now—you'll find good fortune, not in the cards, but in your cash register. LEWIS PURSES, Inc. • 135 MADISON AVE., N.Y.C. LOS ANGELES, CALIF.: 607 SO. HILL ST."'' (Handbags & Accessories December 1959, page 53) The 1960s The "Out of the Bag" column in the June 1961 issue of "Handbags & Accessories" included this tidbit. (page 55) "Lewis Purses, Inc., 135 Madison Avenue, has remodeled their showrooms in anticipation of the fall market season." Categories: Makers |