Cornelia James

Cornelia James (née Katz; 11 March 1917 – 10 December 1999), was a British glovemaker and businesswoman. Born in Vienna, Austria, to a Jewish family, James emigrated to the United Kingdom during the Second World War and founded her eponymous firm of glovemakers in 1946, which now holds a Royal Warrant.

Early life Cornelia Katz was born on 11 March 1917, in Vienna, Austria, the eldest of seven children of a family who ran a chain of grocery shops and a cold storage business.

Katz studied fashion design at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts before leaving Vienna in 1939 for Paris, and then London, with "a suitcase full of the coloured leather". James additionally made several pairs for the Princess's trousseau, beginning her lifelong association with the British royal family. and subsequently operated as the Queen's official glovemaker. James had been an active supporter of hospices and other charities throughout her time in Sussex.

Death Cornelia James died at Martlets Hospice in Hove, Sussex, England, on 10 December 1999.