Coach Purses: New York, Through & Through

As a New York City lover into fashion, I grew up with a strong adoration for Coach purses. To think of Coach when I think of New York, and of handbags, or leather goods has always been automatic.

But, only within the last couple years has there really been any sort of connection for me between Coach and knockoffs. In fact I can remember the first time I saw a fake Coach bag. It wasn’t down in Chinatown and it wasn’t a long, long time ago. In was uptown, on the arm of a very chic looking lady walking into a hotel on the Park in around 2003. Lord knows what made me notice it, but I thought to myself, gee, the coloring of that leather is totally wrong!

Thinking about it now, that had to be a very early Coach replica. A) Because I know for a fact there was no real market for it until 2002, and B) Because something as obvious as coloring of leather would never go out on any decent quality replica Coach bags these days. That lady may have been breaking new ground, but unfortunately, for her, it was still shaky territory.

Oh, how things change. Now, not only is Coach the only American brand to stand shoulder to shoulder with European miracles of fashion like Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton, but Coach bags are among the highest selling of any brand, not just here in the States, but the world.

You know what they say: Imitation is the highest form of flattery. My guess is late Coach founder and designer Bonnie Cashin is blushing in heaven.

Coach Handbags, Since 1941

As the story goes, Coach began in a Manhattan loft as a family business in 1941. Now, I say “story” because it wasn’t until 1962 when Bonnie Cashin, an already famous rebel fashion designer joined on that Coach became a handbags label, and the brand we know today really came into being.

Prior to launching Coach into worldwide prominence Cashin had already solidified herself as one of the most influential designers in New York….and beyond. Far too creative and talented to stick to any one design contract she was the first and only one to design coats for one label, bags for another, suits here, shoes there, and accessories everywhere. Bonnie had a contract with everyone.

At one point in the 50’s Cashin designs were going for as low as $14 for a raincoat and $2000 for a fur kimono. This really explains a lot about the evolution of Coach Purses, which is the only luxury label to market to such a broad consumer niche—from budget to billionaire.

Coach Patchwork Tote: This is definitely the essence of Coach Purses

All American Coach

Coach has become “the American” in a crowd reserved for European fashion labels with long history. Not having the tradition of glamor behind them like Italian or French brands has been a hindrance to Coach Purses reputation, surely, but more recently it’s become their biggest advantage, and from the beginning it’s been a huge selling point for Coach vendors.

By far the biggest Coach buyers are Americans. Does that surprise anyone? The fact that Coach is a New York company with glamor but familiarity, decadence but humility has always been a huge attraction—I know it’s always made me respect them. Not to mention that all powerful, ever-selling angle of the “all American” company. In a US dominated shopping world, Coach purses are sitting pretty, and winding up on the arms of more and more ladies.

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