No one would
have guessed that a purse based on a baseball glove could look so good. But
Miles Cahn, one of Coach’s founders, had a hunch. More than half a century and
billions of dollars later, it seems that Cahn had the right idea.
Coach is
one most renowned fashion houses in the U.S. today for one simple reason: It
taught us the importance of classics and craftsmanship. Although the brand has
evolved throughout the years, embracing the logo craze of the 2000s and adding
color to its line, it has remained faithful to classic shapes and styles. By
doing this, it has influenced other fashion houses to always keep a classic spirit
in their collections.
At
Shoppingberg, we love Coach and the commitment to classic beauty it represents, which is why we chose
to feature the Coach brand in our first designer profile. These profiles are
meant to teach you more about the brands we feature and give you an idea of
about why we carry their products in our store. The short answer is this: We
believe craftsmanship and high quality materials will give you a more beautiful
and longer lasting product that will stay in your closet for years.
The brand
started in New York in the 1940s as a small manufacturer of leather goods, including wallets and
billfolds. In 1946, Miles Cahn, now considered one of Coach’s founders, joined
the company and eventually took it over. He had his eureka moment in the 1960s
when he noticed that the leather in baseball gloves became soft and flexible
with use.
His wife
Lillian had the idea to add handbags to the company’s repertoire (because women
are the geniuses behind all great ideas, of course) and thus the Coach as we know it was born. The company started out
producing 12 exquisitely made tan leather handbags that were noticeably
different than others on the market at the time. Instead of cardboard bags
stapled with leather, Coach bags were made entirely of leather. They also
featured impeccable stitching, like what you would find in a baseball glove.
The Classic Handbags We Know Today
In the
late 1960s, Coach started to experiment and developed some of the classic
purses that have ridden the trend waves throughout the years, such as the
structured bucket bag and the fringe bag. Part of this was due to the hiring of
Bonnie Cashin, a designer who was considered a pioneer
in American sportswear for her use of leather,
wool and jersey in her designs.
Among other things,
Cashin developed the signature brass hardware used on Coach handbags and duffle
bags.
The 1970s saw Coach gradually experimenting with color, many of which we
still see on designer palettes today. These colors included leather in navy,
purple, green and pink. The company also experimented with design, releasing clutches
with fringe trim. Throughout all this experimentation, Coach continued to
produce its classic line, including the tan leather Duffle Sac bag.
Coach Through the Ages
The 1970s
and ‘80s not only saw the rise and fall of hippie culture; it also saw a change
for Coach. The Cashins sold the company to the Sara Lee Corporation and Lew
Frankfort came in as CEO. Under Frankfort’s tenure, Coach expanded rapidly,
seeking to increase the repertoire of products that bore the Coach name. It
also diversified its target audience, for instance, making lighter
leather goods for women who lived in the south.
Frankfort
also introduced the concept of affordable luxury, which is one of the
cornerstones of the Coach brand today. This concept targeted people who wanted
luxury and high-quality items but did not want to pay outrageous prices.
Finally, Frankfort
created Coach’s
modern logo, presiding over the unveiling of the
Coach double C design.
The Modern Coach
Coach has left a mighty big footprint in the fashion world, and
signs show it’s only growing in might. One of the main reasons Coach has been
so successful is that it introduces a design, makes people fall in love with
it, and then re-releases the design every few years, often with a new twist.
These designs last, and they make women feel beautiful. The lesson
here: It pays to stick to your roots and to respect the classics.
For those of you who are Coach junkies or for those interested
in exploring Coach, here are some of our classic Coach picks perfect for any
decade:
The Mini Ruby Crossbody is very similar to
the 1970s Penny Classic and the penny candy-colored
crossbodies that flooded Coach’s collections. Perfect to add a bit of class to
any outfit and to move efficiently if you’re running around.
The Cora Domed Satchel is an
homage to the ‘90s and is very similar to the Winnie Top Handle bag, which was
released in the classic black and nude leather. This bag is perfect to add a
bit of personality to an outfit and is easy to carry around.
Shop our entire Coach collection today and carry a piece of history with you—for less!
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