Coach Experiences Revival After Tabby Collection
The term “affordable luxury” can’t be defined or understood without mentioning Coach, the leather goods giant with dibs on the aspirational middle class. The American brand creates ready-to-wear, but is most popular for its handbags and purses with the signature emblem and “C”.
Coach: A Brief History
In the 2000s, the bags were a regular on the arms of teen idols like Ashley Benson to stars like Halle Berry. Led by Reed Krakoff, the brand launched the Coach Signature collection in 2001, with the aim of increasing brand visibility. The bags’ exteriors then featured a prominent jacquard C pattern with various embellishments.
Brand recognition skyrocketed, but so did black market knockoffs. Affordable dupes flooded stores and suddenly, everyone had a Coach bag and everyone else knew. Exclusivity is at the core of luxury and suddenly, even the aspirational suburban class rejected Coach. Their complex designs also required the use of nylon or canvas which aren’t as sturdy or well-made as genuine leather. Quality suffered, stock prices fell and suddenly, the brand became a blip in 2000s fashion.
The Tabby Collection
However, Coach has seen a resurgence in visibility and popularity in the past few years, best exemplified by the Tabby Bag.
In Fall 2019, the brand released the Tabby collection, now on its way to becoming a classic. First created in a top-handle style, the bag featured a flap enhanced by a metal “C” clasp. Today, the collection has also grown to include shoulder bags, satchels and smaller leather goods. Refinery29 called it ‘2023’s Wedding-Guest Bag’ and Jennifer Lopez recently admitted it was her must-have.
The Tabby is a return to the classics and may be an inflection point for Coach in its return. As quiet luxury makes a comeback and logo mania fades away, there is an opportunity for the brand to become a mid-range favorite once again.
Featured Image Via Editorialist