David Leinoff is the Chief Creative Designer of Fur and Furgery, with over 70 years in New York City's famed garment industry.

Mr. Leinoff began his fur training at The Needles and Trade High School, in New York City. David often says "They built Fashion Institute of Technology on the roof of my high school. In David's last year of high school the high school's placement office found the newly trained and eager young man employment in the thriving fur trade, In Grand Fork, North Dakota. This was 1944 and a then 16 year old David set off to work as a cutter and operator for a leading manufacturer, Mendel furs.

David Leinoff was the creative force and genius behind some of New York's leading fur lines including Davellin Furs and Balencia Furs.

 

He later combined the two fur fashion houses to develop a larger and  broader appeal which became Davellin/Balencia.  David Leinoff at one time held 9 U.S. patents related to the fur trade including the now famous case of "Leinoff Patent 424". Mr. Leinoff developed a procedure in fur design which allowed and even encouraged the showing of leather strips in furs for enhancement which previously had been used only for structuring or strengthening the fur. When David Leinoff saw the industry was using his designs without compensation or recognition he went to Federal Court, and then appeared before The Honorable Constance Baker Motley,the former law clerk on Brown vs The Board of Education and the first African American woman to serve as a Federal Judge, appointed by President Johnson. David Leinoff won and brought the American fur trade to a standstill. All fur coat manufacturers and retailers importing any fur coat using the "The Leinoff 424 Feathering Method" were stopped at the docks.  over 25 fur companies, contractors and notable fashion houses were financially effected. He coined the phase of "Furs and Furgery " furgery which he deemed was a play on the word forgery and this was developed into a line of faux furs. Even Ms. Constance Baker Motley became a client of this champion, later.

 

David Leinoff has been a furrier in over 25 Broadway Plays including Annie, LaCage Aux Follies, The Ritz, Cabaret (revival),  Bullets Over Broadway, Sister Act, Spiderman, Motown The Musical, 9 to 5, Follies and The Best is yet to come. Today after over 70 years in the fur industry he continues to design in midtown Manhattan with appointments only, call for an appointment at 270 west 38th street room 606 212-858-0066, 212-244-7601.