Coach’s legacy is unequivocally rooted in leather craftsmanship. When husband-and-wife duo Lillian and Miles Cahn joined a small, family-run workshop in 1946, they embarked on a shared journey of creating quality leather goods that were classic, durable, and dependable. Taking over the company in 1950, Miles Cahn hired Bonnie Cashin as lead designer in 1962—a move that reinforced the New York brand’s mission and reputation as a purveyor of well-crafted accessories at accessible prices. With her modern approach to color and proportion, Cashin set the tone for Coach as we know it today, infusing it with a distinct New York verve that still resonates among fans of the brand, new and old. When Stuart Vevers succeeded Reed Krakoff as creative director in 2013, he introduced ready-to-wear and quickly established himself as the visionary behind some of the label’s most enduring designs.
- The Brooklyn, debuted in 2024
- The Empire Carryall, debuted in 2024
- The Tabby, debuted in 2019, a reimagining of a style from the 1970s
- The Lana, debuted in 2023
- The Bleecker, debuted in 2025, a reimagining of a style from 1995
- The Plaza, debuted in 2024, a reimagining of a style from 1988
Many find their first big designer purchase at Coach, and it has long appealed to discerning teenagers seeking self-expression. As the story goes, the brand looked to the soft patina of leather baseball mitts to inform some of its earliest designs: capacious carryalls crafted from supple, glove-tanned leathers, unlike the prim, boxy top handles that dominated the market at the time. These more relaxed shapes answered a busy New Yorker’s need for sensible accessories that looked as good on the move as they did perched on a subway seat. Today, many of the brand’s most coveted designs still reference and pay homage to the city’s self-assured grit and attitude.
With Gen Z as its North Star, Coach continues to push the business forward with timeless designs that instill confidence and communicate individuality. Its forward-thinking approach inspired the 2023 launch of the brand’s sub-label, Coachtopia, which repurposes surplus materials into new designs.
What began as a small, family-run leather-goods business in 1941 has since grown into a household name with billion-dollar ambitions—anchored by a booming handbag business that includes the Brooklyn, the Empire, and the Tabby. Discover these—and more core families—below.
Brooklyn
Understated in shape yet spacious in design, the Brooklyn bag—part of the New York collection—lets you carry everything with ease. Its refined take on the roomy, relaxed tote makes it a no-brainer for work, travel, and beyond. Coach made No. 5 on Lyst’s 2024 index of hottest brands of the year, with the Brooklyn bag as the key buy—seen on the likes of Charli XCX and Camila Morrone. Available in two sizes and an elegant range of suedes and leathers, it exemplifies the house’s commitment to craftsmanship.
Empire Carryall
One of our top-shopped handbags of the year, the Empire Carryall collection keeps a New Yorker’s practicality in mind with its roomy and comfortable-to-hold shape. Perfect for anyone always on the go—like many of Vogue’s very own—it’s a bag that earns its keep quickly as it is a do-it-all accessory, with the brand’s colorful and witty bag charms often adorning the handles. Offered in four sizes and fabrications, each bag serves a different purpose: The smallest shape, the Empire 28, fits all your essentials and can be worn as a top handle or crossbody, while the Empire 34 features a more elongated silhouette, ideal for carrying on your shoulder. For traveling and work commutes, the Mary Poppins–like compartments of the Empire 40 and 46 allow you to stylishly stow away laptops, books, lunch, and more.
Tabby
First introduced in 2019, the Tabby borrows from an archival 1970s design that’s quickly become one of the brand’s most recognizable styles. With its signature C hardware clasp anchoring the design, it’s reimagined season after season in pillowy leathers, quilted suedes, and jellylike finishes. It comes in two sizes—the 20 and 26—with two detachable straps that allow a cornucopia of bag charms to be affixed, giving it its own unique personality. (Made-to-order options can be created as well for those keen to design their own from scratch.) Its cultural pull is uncontested: Charli XCX, Bella Hadid, Laura Harrier, and global ambassador Elle Fanning have all been spotted carrying the Tabby in recent years.
Lana
Reliable and functional, the Lana is designed to fit the essentials and be styled seamlessly with just about any outfit. Crafted in pebbled leather or sumptuous suede, it’s available in three sizes for day-to-night wear, with minimal accents (aside from a small tag and discreet logo on the right side).
Bleecker
Coach’s take on the bucket bag finds form in the Bleecker, a sleek yet roomy silhouette with adjustable straps for effortless shoulder wear. Available in two sizes, it offers ample space for everything from lunch to a laptop, without missing a beat. The latest version comes shearling lined, perfect for the winter months ahead.
Plaza
The most compact silhouette in the Coach handbag lineup, the Plaza is the house’s interpretation of the ’90s minimal shoulder style. Its compact shape easily transforms from a stylish short shoulder bag to a sleek wristlet, making it a versatile choice for understated elegance.
