Coach: It's in the Bag

Few Americans can imagine the sport of baseball without its leather counterpart, the baseball glove. From its durable seaming to its soft, robust leather, the baseball glove remains instantly recognizable as a companion to the game. Its leather does not deteriorate, but instead becomes softer with age. It is an accessory that no catcher would dare be without. In 1941, in a New York City loft, Miles and Lilian Cohn recognized the potential of the glove's timeless essence and established their own company, Manhattan Leather Goods. In its humble beginnings, Manhattan Leather Goods boasted a collection of just twelve hand sewn bags, each constructed via a meticulous manufacturing process. Today, Manhattan Leather Goods is known as Coach, Incorporated. The company maintains its quality standards, and has expanded across the world. Coach sells a myriad of clothing and accessories, but perhaps its most prominent product is the Coach handbag.

Twenty-one years after the Cohns founded Coach, designer Bonnie Cashin joined Coach and crafted a handbag uniquely inspired by the paper shopping bag. In 1973, Coach introduced the Duffle Sac to their collections, and nine years later, Jew Frankfort joined Coach, and eventually became CEO. Then, exactly 40 years after Manhattan Leather Goods began, Coach opened its very first flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York. For the next twelve years, Coach continued to grow, introducing a watch and outerwear collection and opening a store in Tokyo. Then, in 1996, Reed Krakoff began his career with Coach and eventually won two awards for CFDA Accessory Designer of the Year. For the next six years, Coach grew exponentially and launched the Signature, Mini Signature, Legacy Leather and knitwear collections. Additional stores also opened in Korea and on Rodeo drive, as well as a newly restored flagship in New York.

To date, Coach, Incorporated boasts 10 main collections, but each season brings with it more fashion possibilities. The collections include an extensive mix of accessories, logo prints, brass closures and rich colors. From the $28 leather snap keyfob to the $6,000 Ostrich skin Sabrina, almost everyone can own a piece of the company. The Heritage Stripe collection, perhaps one of the most instantly recognizable collections, features the original logo print and telltale stripe. More recently, the collection has expanded to include several look-at-me graffiti print bags. The Penelope bag is one of several bags featuring saturated colors, OP art print and the original logo print. The Spectator bags possess contrasting trim, while Madison bags are sleek and practical, with their often- understated colors and distinct shapes. In 2006, Coach launched the Legacy collection in celebration of its 65th anniversary. This collection features a variety of colors, shapes and styles, with the most distinct being the drawstring pouch and the North-South Tote. The modest Addison bag boasts the simplicity of a single front pocket and turnlock clasp, whereas the Leah caters to everything from the bold, large tote to the sateen wristlet. The Zoe collection is a small variety of basic bags, relatively unadorned with external extras, while the brand new Parker collection features a myriad of unique new designs, including artistic prints and exclusively designed handles. With so many styles to choose from, Coach's ever-expanding collection caters to almost any taste.

Such an unprecedented product most certainly generates imitation. Many a street vendor and no-name store has marketed a number of fakes. Such products are far inferior in construction and quality, and those seeking a genuine Coach should be weary of unqualified vendors. The official coach website does not divulge the ways people can distinguish the counterfeits, for fear it may tip off those in the replica market. Nonetheless, there are ways to ensure the integrity of one's purchase. For one, except for a few distinct designs, the tips of the logo print should be touching. Such a print should also align in the center and radiate outward. The pattern should be straight both vertically and horizontally, and the seams should run through the center of the double C pattern. At times, peddlers will go so far as to sell bags with Gs instead of Cs. Those in search of Coach products online should take note of unclear photos or photos taken from Coach's website. As a precaution, shoppers should require more specific photographs or a proof of authenticity from sellers. One mark of authenticity is the serial number. Most of Coach's medium and large bags feature a serial number on a portion of leather inside the bag. While some counterfeits also boast a serial number, the last 4 to 5 digits of a genuine serial number will match the style number of the bag in question. Additionally, a few of the Coach styles have hardware embossed with the Coach logo. The newest and oldest styles may be devoid of this embossment, however. Furthermore, all Legacy styles are lined in a colorful, striped silk fabric. A genuine Coach handbag also features the letter YKK on the metal portion of all its zipper pulls. Futher still, one will never see the logo print on the exterior of the bag as well as on the lining, while the lining of the classic styles is absent altogether. Finally, it's all about location. While some real Coach products may say "Made in China," a genuine piece will never say "Made in Korea." Always do your research, and remember that the only completely fail-proof method is to purchase from an authorized retailer.

From its humble beginnings in a New York loft to its vast fashion empire of today, Coach remains a dominant force in fashion accessories. Perhaps the company was destined for success with its pristine craftsmanship and superior materials. Sixty-eight years later, this fashion empire remains a timeless, powerful presence. With Coach, it's in the bag.

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