The People Behind the Bag: Then and Now at Lieber’s Luggage

The first thing we notice in these workshop photographs isn’t the luggage. It’s the people.

In Max’s workshop, people gather around long benches with cases and materials nearby. In today’s Albuquerque Luggage Lab, you see people working directly on bags, with shells and finished spinners close at hand.

Different generations. Different luggage. A familiar kind of personal involvement.

A name is only as good as the work behind it

Lieber’s story began in Cleveland in 1906. Max Lieber was the original founder. His close friend Sam Fine purchased the operation in 1943, and Sam’s grandson Frank later brought the Lieber’s name to Albuquerque in 1978.

Today, owners Dustin and Felicia Boyd carry that story forward. Dustin began working at Lieber’s in 2002 before later purchasing the business from Frank.

It’s a long history, but the responsibility is present-day: do work worthy of the name on the door and the bag.

Our hands are part of the process

At our Albuquerque Luggage Lab, we choose every component for the Legacy Line and hand-assemble the bags ourselves. We source USA parts when we can, alongside components from elsewhere.

We treat every screw with an anti-vibration thread-locking compound, apply foam tape to help keep screws secure until service, and add extra padding at natural stress points, including pull-handle areas.

Those details are part of the work people put into your bag before you ever give it a test roll.

Real people after the purchase, too

Max’s belief that “the sign of a luxury good is its repairability” means something practical to us. We keep repair parts for our Legacy luggage.

After the five-year no-holds-barred warranty period, customers can buy replacement wheels or have our Luggage Lab handle repairs for a reasonable fee. A worn part shouldn’t automatically mean giving up on a whole bag.

Come meet the shop behind the luggage

We believe New Mexico heart goes into each Legacy bag we assemble. That starts with local people taking pride in their work, and continues with helping customers find gear that fits their plans.

Visit Lieber’s Luggage at 6515 Menaul Blvd NE in Albuquerque. Open a bag, compare the details, and ask us about the assembly and repair options.

There are real people behind the bag. These photographs are a good reminder of that.