Saddle-Stitched Legacy: The Story of Coach, an American Original

Born in a Manhattan loft and inspired by baseball gloves and bold women, Coach turned leather into legacy

Coach is more than just a fashion brand—it’s a love letter to American craftsmanship with a saddle-leather soul. Born in a modest Manhattan loft in 1941, Coach began with a handful of artisans crafting leather goods by hand, setting the tone for a legacy built on quality, utility, and timeless style. From its baseball glove–inspired leather to handbag innovations by design legend Bonnie Cashin, Coach has evolved into an icon of attainable luxury.

Enjoy these interesting insights and little-known facts about the brand’s roots, evolution, and enduring appeal—proving that in a world of fast fashion, Coach remains classic, confident, and unmistakably American.

The All-American Original With Saddle-Leather Soul

Let’s set the scene: It’s 1941, Manhattan. In a tiny loft workshop, six leather artisans are handcrafting wallets with a level of care usually reserved for your grandma’s cotton lace doilies. This, folks, is the birth of Coach—the brand that would eventually marry luxury with Americana like denim and rhinestones.

Coach didn’t just stumble onto greatness. It was coaxed into being by Miles and Lillian Cahn, a leather-loving power couple who knew a thing or two about how to treat a hide. Inspired by the patina of a well-worn baseball glove, Miles created a method for making leather buttery soft and tough as nails. (We love a man who can multitask.) Then came Lillian—smart, stylish, and responsible for nudging Coach into handbags. The first women’s bag dropped in the 1960s and the rest is handbag history.

Enter Bonnie Cashin, fashion’s original utility queen. She joined Coach in 1962 and brought big ideas: outside pockets, coin purses, the brass turn-lock, and pops of color. Think Grace Kelly with a hardware store hookup.

An American Icon, Worn Coast to Coast

Craftsmanship is Coach’s love language. These bags are glove-tanned, hand-stitched, and treated with a reverence usually reserved for fine wine or your dad’s ‘72 Bronco. Details matter here—brass zippers, reinforced stitching, edge-painted straps. Even the trim gets a glow-up. In a seemingly endless sea of trendy fast fashion, Coach stands tall like a lone windmill on the prairie: classic, functional, unbothered.

While the brand is certainly an international handbag staple, it's as American as sweet tea and “Friday Night Lights” football. What Levi’s are to denim, Coach is to leather: timeless, rugged, and always ready for a road trip. Over the years, the brand has quietly defined what “attainable luxury” looks like in this country—premium, but never precious. Refined, but with room to breathe.

And because we know our readers love a Southern twist—Coach’s clean lines, saddle-leather roots, and outdoorsy ethos pair mighty well with the Southern aesthetic. Whether you’re wearing your boots to brunch or your ball gown to a barn dance, there’s a Coach for that.

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Icons of the House (a.k.a. Bags We’d Sell a Boot for)

Coach has a treasure trove of icons, each with a little attitude and a lot of staying power:

The Duffle – Slouchy, sporty, and never trying too hard.

The Dinky – The itty-bitty bag that packs a punch. Turn-lock included.

The Rogue – For the free-spirited, structured rebel

The Cashin Carry – Big enough for your planner, your lipstick, and your wildest dreams.

What’s Hot Right Now (And Where to Click)

Coach’s 2024–2025 collections are dialing it in. We're talkin’:

The Brooklyn Shoulder Bag – Clean, cool, and big enough to fit your dreams.

The Empire Carryall 34  – The grown-up, get-it-done bag. Think power lunch in Charleston.

The Tabby Backpack – A 70s revival with an updated shape, chunky hardware and swagger to spare

The Western Tabby – it’s your favorite rodeo queen’s go-to—and it’ll look just as good slung over your denim jacket as it will your Saturday night silk.

Why Does Coach Still Matters in 2025

This iconic American brand has never tried to be something it’s not. Coach is confident in its own leather-scented skin, and it's luxury that gets its hands dirty. To wit: it's high fashion without the high horse. And in an age of fleeting trends, Coach is one brand that still knows how to ride steady.

From New York lofts to Nashville nights, this is a brand that’s laced up, locked in, and ready for another 80 years of American style.

You can find them at coach.com and most major retailers.

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About the Author

Suzanne Kopulos has spent 20+ years as a celebrity stylist, fashion tastemaker, and lifestyle brand builder. For nearly a decade, she was represented by Ford Models—where her keen eye for emerging trends made her an indispensable part of Chicago’s fashion scene. With degrees in both business and law, Suzanne parlayed these skills into creative strategy; she has shaped campaigns for Neiman Marcus, BCBG, Ted Baker, Lafayette 148, goop, Ulta Beauty, Nike, QVC, Vital Proteins, Macy’s, Burberry, and Kate Somerville. As a fashion industry thought leader, she was regularly featured live on-air, contributing her “fresh takes” on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and WGN.