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TIMI & LESLIE was created in 2000 out of sheer
necessity, when Leslie Newton needed a gift for a friend’s baby shower and
decided to create one herself. At the time Leslie had been performing comedy
with Los Angeles’ renowned Groundling’s Theatre, and sewing bags in her craft
room for fun from the vintage, retro fabric she had been collecting all her
life. Disappointed with the limited diaper bag selection for a friend’s shower
she took the logical next step, designing her own creation from the vintage
fabric, which she covered in vinyl, and effectively launched TIMI & LESLIE.
“I have always been inspired by all things vintage
from the 40’s, 50’s & 60’s – collecting jewelry, jackets and fabrics. One day I
just started making bags from vintage fabrics and realized they would be great
as diaper bags, if they were covered in vinyl like my grandmother’s 1950’s
vintage couch,” says Leslie Newton. “At our first trade show, I had to put a
sign up saying they were diaper bags, because at the time they were so fashion
forward no one could believe they were meant for moms.”
Over time Leslie was approached by countless
strangers for one of her unique creations and had previously been taking names
and addresses, creating and sending out bags as her schedule allowed. She
decided to put her comedy career on hold and focus full time on designing a line
of stylish and convertible diaper bags, to remind women that they can still be
stylish even once they become a parent. Leslie says her bags are for “the woman
in every mom.” With a suitcase full of her designs she headed up to her native
San Francisco and sold over $8,000 worth of bags in her first weekend, now all
she had to do was produce the bags! From that point on, Leslie Newton became a
full time handbag designer who hasn’t looked back since.
The creation of TIMI & LESLIE revolutionized the
diaper bag and ushered in an era where moms could also be style icons. In 2005,
Women’s Wear Daily named TIMI & LESLIE number two on a list of those who have
made a difference in the children’s business in the past 20 years. Sold
throughout the U.S. and internationally at stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue,
Neiman Marcus, Giggle and buybuy BABY, Leslie pioneered the stylish yet
functional diaper bag movement. With celebrity fans that include Angelina Jolie,
Cindy Crawford, Courtney Cox Arquette, Nicole Kidman, Jessica Alba and Jack
Black, TIMI & LESLIE bags are the choice of parents who know luxurious style,
practical function and great quality.
Originally from Marin County, Leslie currently
lives in Los Angeles with her husband, her daughter Lily Louise, her cat Harold
and her dog Lola. As a recent first time mother, she has been putting her latest
collection to good use!
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