Leather Betsy Johnson small purse - Love Betsy version. Pastel colors. In great condition. BETSEY JOHNSON: AN ICON OF AMERICAN FASHION Known for her celebration of the exuberant, the embellished and the over the top, Betsey has been rocking the fashion industry with her unique and original designs since the 1960's - her influence on American fashion is present to this day. Betsey was introduced to the fashion world as the in-house designer for the youth culture punk boutique Paraphernalia in New York City in the mid 1960s, followed by a role as creative director of Alley Cat, a youthful sportswear brand. By 1969, she opened her first boutique, Betsey Bunky Nini, on the Upper East Side. She continued to have her own label with a variety of manufacturers, and by 1978, Johnson's opened her own company, the eponymous Betsey Johnson brand.