The great fashion designer Etienne Aigner was born in Hungary in 1904. More than half a century ago he presented his first handbag collection in New York - and caused a major sensation. Etienne Aigner met Heiner H. Rankl, a businessman with a keen feel for the future and an equally strong sense of tradition - and the cult brand of Aigner was born in 1965, Munich.

In the mid 60s and 70s Munich was full of excitement: there was a euphoric belief in progress, and the future held no threat. At that time nobody needed to invent an attitude because everyone had a natural feel for the lightness of life. The design of the 60s and 70s reflected this great freedom. It was young, streamlined and futuristic, with an emphasis on the colour orange. It was that freedom, the special feel of that time, which inspired the young brand Aigner.

Aigner gave its products a rural, country-style feel. There was always a sense of the racecourse, a feeling of being by the fireside. Throughout the decades, Aigner has retained its claim to creating true classics. The prestige brand Aigner continued to successfully bridge the gap between tradition and innovation long after its two original founders were no longer able to personally steer the company's fortunes. In the year 2000, Etienne Aigner died in New York at the age of 96.