I apologize for my absence last week, but I am back with a fun post about a beloved brand! Today we are going to look into the history of Coach. Coach has to be one of my favorite luxury brands not only because it is iconic, but also because the price point is reasonable. 

In 1941, six artisans started the brand in a loft space on 34th Street in Manhattan. They began by making small men’s wallets out of leather. It was with the assistance of Lillian and Miles Cahn in 1946 that the company really began. The Cahn’s were experts in the leather industry, making them the perfect people to take charge of the brand. Miles brought the idea of making the leather similar to how leather baseball gloves are made; this made the wallets more durable. Lillian designed the first Coach women’s handbag. They officially bought the company in 1961 and helped Coach become known as the “Original American House of Leather.”

In 1962, they hired Bonnie Cashin. She is an important Coach figure because she helped the company have a fun quirk and reflect modern ideals. She designed many of the details and bags that the company is known for today like the zip-top tote that can fit a smaller handbag. She is the one who started the idea of carrying around more than one bag, claiming women had too many roles to just have one bag. 

Richard Rose joined Coach in 1965 and became the executive vice president. He helped the brand gain status and get into many big department stores.

In 1979, Lewis Frankford came on board as vice president of business development. Frankford assisted in Coach opening their first flagship on Madison Avenue in 1985. In the same year, the Cahn’s sold the brand to Sara Lee. That may sound out of place because Sara Lee is known for owning food companies rather than handbags. However, while Sara Lee was in charge Coach began to really blossom. 

Frankford became the CEO of Coach in 1996 and continued to shape the brand. He hired fashion designer Reed Krakoff who helped bring Coach sales from millions to billions. He helped attract a younger crowd and the brand became popular among a larger age group. In 2001, the company broke away from Sara Lee to become Coach, Inc. 

Stuart Vevers, who previously worked with brands such as Givenchy and Louis Vuitton, joined Coach in 2013. He also helped make the brand more modern while assuring the brand stayed authentic. 

In 2020, Todd Kahn became the CEO and has stayed in the position since. Today, Coach has continued to be popular in the handbag game with bags such as “The Tabby” and the iconic “Saddle” bag, but they are also now known for their clothing, shoes, and other accessories. 

Till next Sunday,

Daisy