Location February 1939:
Paristyle Leather Goods
33 East 33rd Street
New York

Max Sachs, the founder of Paristyle Bags, Inc., was born in 1883. He arrived in America from Yellok, Lithuania in 1900 and by 1902 had establishes a handbag manufacturing company. It wasn't easy. In April, 1905, another manufacturer's bankruptcy cost him $2500, the equivalent of over $50,000 in inflation adjusted dollars!

The first clear reference found for Paristyle is a Feb 18, 1939 notice of a business lease for one floor in the building at 33 East 33rd Street. Later that year, the company undertook a national advertising campaign with the advertising agency Norman D. Walters & Associates. (New York Times July 19, 1939, page 29)

A classified listing for a designer/Sample maker for Ladies handbags in the Sept. 24, 1946 issue of the New York Times (page 38) confirmed the firm was still at this location. Max Sachs served as President of Paristyle until 1952 and after that time headed the Board of Directors with his son Harold serving as company president. Max Sachs died at his home on Feb. 8, 1961 at 78 years of age. "He was responsible of several innovations in production techniques and designs of women's handbags." (New York Times Feb 9, 1961, pg 33)

This Paristyle bag was a Fall 1947 concept, illustrated as "The Shape of Things to Come" in the July 1947 issue of Handbags Illustrated, page 26. The form does seem to anticipate Art Modern style. The calf leather "Underarm" bag is style 329. It was available in a wide range of colors and wholesaled for $96 per dozen.

"An unusual shape for an underarm bag. Here it takes to pouch lines with its rounded, broad base. It's a semi-circle made of calf with an additional pleasant touch of a simulated flap. By Paristyle Bags Inc."

The 1950s

Harold Sachs, president of Paristyle Bags, Inc., served as Harry Schoenfeld's SchoenfeldWolf co-chairman in the '55 National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis campaign. (January 1955 Handbags & Accessories, page 34)

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

News of the handbag industry

"Harold Sachs, second vice-president of the National Authority for the Ladies' Handbag Industry, is the "young man of distinction" in the handbag industry. In the span of a few years, he has crowded in a wealth of communal, industry and philanthropic activity which would fill several pages of a biographical encyclopedia.
After earning degrees at Lafayette College and Temple University, he followed a family tradition and entered the industry, joining his father, Max, and brother Irving) in Paristyle Bags, Inc. Max Sachs is one of the early pioneers of the industry, having entered prior to 1900. In 1914 he became a principal in Washington Leather Goods and organized Paristyle Bags in 1932. Harold and Irving are maintaining the family tradition since the retirement of their dad.
Harold has been active in so many philanthropic causes that he is unquestionably a man with a devotion to the welfare of his fellowman. Beginning in his college days, he devoted his energies to fund raising for every worthy cause of the day. As concerns industry drives, he was chairman of the UJA, JDA, Red Cross and Federation, and was recently honored as "Man of the Year" at the 1956 Federation Drive. He was co-chairman of the March of Dimes, and the Cancer drives.
In addition, he is active in Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and all local charity drives in Phillipsburg, N.J., factory site of Paristyle Bags.
On the industrial front, Harold is a member of the Advisory Board of the association and has served on the Planning, Import, Nominating and School committees. All of which adds up to a terrific pace and will undoubtedly lead to unequalled heights of service to the handbag industry." (Handbags & Accessories June 1956, page 30)

July 17, 2011: I received notice of the passing on July 10, 2011 of HAROLD B. SACHS, 86 at home. He was the beloved husband of Doris to who he was married for forty years. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. He will be remembered and appreciated for the wonderful creations his company made under his guidance.

Makers