Coach is an American luxury fashion brand that is best known for its designer handbags and purses. The company was founded in 1941 by Miles Cahn and his wife Lillian in New York City. Originally, Coach was a small workshop that produced high-quality leather goods, such as wallets and billfolds, using traditional leatherworking techniques.
In the early 1950s, Miles Cahn noticed that the leather used in baseball gloves became softer and more supple with use. He began to experiment with this leather, which led to the development of a new leather treatment process that made the leather more durable and softer to the touch. This innovation helped to establish Coach as a leading brand in the luxury leather goods industry.
In 1961, Cahn hired Bonnie Cashin, a well-known fashion designer, to create a new line of handbags for the company. Cashin's designs were a departure from the
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traditional styles that Coach had been producing, and her use of bright colors and unique hardware helped to establish Coach as a fashion brand as well as a maker of high-quality leather goods.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Coach continued to expand its product line and increase its presence in the luxury fashion market. The company introduced new styles of handbags and purses, as well as other leather goods such as belts and gloves. In 1985, Coach went public and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Coach continued to grow and expand its product line. The company began to focus more on international markets, opening stores in Asia, Europe, and other regions around the world. Coach also expanded into other areas of fashion, such as footwear and clothing.
In 2017, Coach acquired the luxury fashion brand Kate Spade and later that same year, it acquired Stuart Weitzman, a high-end footwear brand. The acquisitions helped to solidify Coach's position as a major player in the luxury fashion industry.
Coach is now a global fashion brand with stores in over 50 countries. The company continues to be known for its high-quality leather goods, and its handbags and purses remain some of the most popular and recognizable fashion accessories in the world.
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