Complete Guide to Coach Bags

History

In 1941, Coach, Inc. began in New York City. The company wanted to make a leather bag that felt like a baseball mitt. The leather had to be soft yet strong. They created the bags with no regard to current trends. Its conservative design meant that it would always be in style. The leather bags achieved their popularity on the basis of their quality and expense. It became a status symbol to many women, who could justify the expense by the fact that Coach bags rarely had to be fixed or replaced.

In the 1980s, the company made a leap forward, opening their first store on Madison Avenue in New York. During the 1990s, Coach expanded their line of products to include clothing and accessories. It became a publicly traded company in 2000. Soon afterward, Coach launched its enormously successful signature line of handbags.

Signature Collection

In an effort to modernize its products, Coach started its signature line. This canvas bag featured the letter C against a checker print background. The handbags were small, with zippers at the top and leather trim. Women in New York loved the signature line. The canvas material went well with classic Upper West Side wardrobes. The signature pattern made the bag easily identifiable as a Coach bag. 

Coach offers a variety of bags in its Signature Collection. You may purchase a baby bag, mini backpack or small handbag. These bags are weather-resistant and come in either black or khaki colors.

Coach Originals

When Coach decided to grow its line of products, it also recognized that tradition had played a part in its past success. Rather than discontinuing its traditional leather handbags, Coach kept these bags in its Originals Collection. If your mother had a Coach handbag during the 1970s, you may be able to find the bag in this line. These elegant leather bags feel thick and soft.

You can wear these bags with almost any style of clothing. Fashionistas will appreciate the basic design of the City Bag, with its classic appearance and sturdy hardware. Businesswomen often choose Court Bags for a conservative and serious look. These handbags usually come in black, tan, or dark brown.

Audrey and Alexandra Collections

Coach’s Audrey Collection features tote bags that capture the casual feeling of summer. These bags feature their signature C logo, either as a jeweled focal point or embedded into the leather material. They close with a conventional zipper or are cinched at the top of the bag. Other items in this collection include handbags and satchels.

The Alexandra Collection has tote bags that look like handbags. They have an air of sophistication that casual tote bags always seem to lack. Women who need to carry lots of items on a daily basis will appreciate the amount of space inside these bags. They come in leather or fabric, but they always have the distinctive front pleat.

Poppy Collection

Coach’s Poppy Collection is a dynamic line of bags  marketed to young women. Their bohemian styles include patchwork patterns, fringe leather and sequins. They come in everything from small, boxy bags to backpacks. Longer straps on their handbags allow women to wear them across their bodies. While these bags are likely to be as durable as Coach’s traditional fare, women may find that the design of the bag may not go with every outfit they own.  

Madison and Kristin Collections

Coach’s elegant uptown line, the Madison Collection features fine detailing. These leather bags have embellishments, such as inlays and eyelet lace designs. They give off the ambience of an established heritage.  

The Kristin Collection features bags with art deco detailing. The tops of the bags are curved like the edge of the moon. They also have geometrically shaped clasps. The result is a feminine looking bag that still maintains the classic look of its traditional line.

The Future of Coach

Coach is actively engaged in men’s fashion through their male bag line. They offer leather bags that look similar to briefcases and bike messenger bags. Coach’s male product line is an attempt to capture the sophisticated and hip young male demographic.  Men could use these new bags for travel, business or day trips.

Coach has created an offshoot company called Reed Krakoff, named after the founder, who is also Coach’s Creative Director. Its luxury line mixes utilitarian designs and femininity. The bags appear young and hip without being gaudy or overstated.