In its 75-year history Coach has gone through a lot of changes and has evolved from just an accessories companies known originally for its quality billfolds and wallets to a brand that has expanded to handbags and most recently ready-to-wear jackets and garments. Coach’s most illustrious alumni, Reed Krakoff, left the Coach helm to launch his own eponymous brand.
Stuart Vevers, hired in 2014, is the current creative director. And under his leadership Vevers has plunged Coach into new waters. Coach’s spring 2017 collection is ample evidence of this new direction; a new direction that is reaping annual profits of over $4.24 billion dollars.
The signature Coach aesthetic of easy, non-cluttered accessibility is still in place. Still, Vevers is seeking to push the brand in a more forward-thinking direction. For spring 2017 Vevers created the 1941 collection in honor of the year Coach came into existence.
Inspired by the tee shirt and iconic films that have identifiably American sportswear separates and wardrobe staples, “Rebel Without a Cause,” “My Private Idaho,” and even an episode from “The Twilight Zone” entitled “Black Leather Jackets,” Vevers pairs these looks with Coach’s signature look of American accessibility. Vevers additionally, has played with the idea of bringing customization to classic American sportswear items we all love; jeans, jacket, penny loafers and of course tee shirts.
Images courtesy of fashionreverie.com/Ken Jones
Coach’s brand of customization for the 1941 collection is made evident in penny loafers with studs, spray-painted black moto jackets, and jackets with badges. The question to be asked is if the Coach customer will go for this new evolved Coach. My bet is a resounding, yes!!
—William S. Gooch
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