By 1950, Cahn had taken over the business. During the early years, Cahn noticed the distinctive properties and qualities of the leather used to make baseball gloves. With wear and use, the leather in a glove became softer and suppler. Attempting to mimic this process, Cahn created a way of processing the leather to make it stronger, softer, and more flexible. Since the leather absorbed dye very well, this process also created a richer, deeper color in the leather. Soon after Cahn developed this new process, Lillian Cahn suggested to Miles that the company supplement the factory's men’s accessories business by adding women's leather handbags. The "sturdy cowhide bags were an immediate hit.
Miles and Lillian Cahn bought the company through a leveraged buyout in 1961.