Cornelia James (née Katz) was born in 1917 and studied at Vienna School of Art. She left Austria as a refugee in 1939, going first to Paris and then to Sussex, England.
After World War II in 1946 she founded Cornelia James Ltd, supplying colourful and high quality gloves to couturiers and large department stores. Within a year, Norman Hartnell commissioned her to make gloves for Princess Elizabeth’s wedding in 1947, for the future queen to wear with her going away outfit. She continued to make gloves for the Royal Family, and the company was granted a Royal Warrant in 1979, which it still holds. When the demand for dress gloves grew less, she also began producing silk scarves.
Cornelia James died in 1999. As of 2013, the company is run by her daughter Genevieve Lawson and continues to manufacture in Lewes, England.
Written by Leonardo Da Vintage
from a pair of 1960s gloves
Courtesy of LeonardoDaVintage
from a 1986 sports team scarf
Courtesy of LeonardoDaVintage
