Is Coach A Luxury Brand? (9 Reasons Why)

Founded in 1941, Coach New York or more popularly known as Coach, is an American fashion house. The company offers a wide range of products including handbags, wallets, business cases,  accessories, and as well as ready-to-wear. 

The company is the main subsidiary of Tapestry, Inc. (formerly known as Coach, Inc.) after acquiring Kate Spade. And since Coach’s inception, it has always been known and positioned itself as a luxury brand. However, there are some people who are wondering whether Coach is still a luxury brand or not.

They believe that in recent years, many of its products are now more affordable and accessible to the masses. But is this really the case? Is Coach really a luxury brand? Let’s take a closer look.

Is Coach A Luxury Brand?

Coach is somewhere between the lower end of a luxury brand and designer fashion brands. It’s mid range price point is similar to that of Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Toby Burch. Their target market is mainly middle income earners wanting something branded to splurge on.

1. The Brand’s Long And Rich History

Coach has been around for more than 80 years now, which is a testament to its quality products and loyal customer base. It has managed to withstand the test of time, which is something that not many brands can say. 

Moreover, it has always been associated with luxury and its products have been featured in high-end magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. This only goes to show that the brand is well-respected in the fashion industry.

2. The Design of Coach Products Is High Quality

The top reason why Coach is a luxury brand is because of the design of its products. The company employs some of the best designers in the industry to come up with elegant and stylish designs. Its products are also classic and timeless, which are two important characteristics of luxury brands.

Coach has employed some world-renowned designers like Lillian Cahn and Stuart Vevers. Under their leadership, the company has been able to produce high-quality and stylish products.

3. The Superb Craftmanship

Coach gained loyal followers because of the superb craftsmanship that it puts into its products. The materials used are top-notch and the attention to detail is impeccable. This results in products that are made to last for many years. 

This level of craftsmanship is something that you don’t often see in fast fashion brands. They usually sacrifice quality for quantity, which is not the case with Coach.

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4. The Brand Is Recognizable

Another important characteristic of a luxury brand is its recognition. Luxury brands are usually known for their quality and style. People who can afford luxury brands usually have a high social status. And because of this, they are often seen as a status symbol.

Coach is a highly recognizable brand. It is often featured in magazines and on runways. Celebrities and socialites are often seen carrying Coach products. This only goes to show that the brand has a high level of recognition.

5. Coach Is A Status Symbol

Because of its high level of recognition, Coach is often seen as a status symbol. This is one of the reasons why people think that the brand is a luxury brand. People who can afford to buy Coach products are usually perceived to be wealthy and successful.

This perception has been further solidified by the fact that Coach products are often given as gifts to important people. For example, it is not uncommon for Coach products to be given as corporate gifts.

6. The Brand Offers A Wide Range Of Products

Another reason why Coach is a luxury brand is that it offers a wide range of products from bags to shoes to accessories. Luxury brands are usually known for their ability to provide their customers with a wide variety of products— and Coach is no different.

The company offers a wide range of products including handbags, accessories, jewelry, and ready-to-wear. This only goes to show that the brand can cater to the needs of its customers.

7. Brand Collaborations

Over the years, Coach has secured its positioning in the market to be defined as a luxury brand. It has done so by collaborating with famous personalities like Guang Yu, Michael B. Jordan, and Jenifer Lopez. Thus, Coach also collaborated with other famous brands like Disney and Marvel.

That being said, it only proved that Coach itself is highly recognized not just in fashion but even in other industries as well. These collaborations helped solidify its position as a brand with prestige and sophistication.

8. The High Price Tag

Of course, one of the most important reasons why Coach is a luxury brand is because of its high price tag. Luxury brands, like Coach, are usually known for their high prices. Coach is not sold cheap considering the process and materials used to make each product.

This is one of the things that sets luxury brands, like Coach, apart from fast fashion brands that are sold cheap andd made from low quality materials.

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On the other hand, Coach products are made to last for many years because of the attention and sophistication to details and the high-quality materials used. And even though they are more expensive, Coach products are still cheaper in the long run as you can use them longer compared to cheaper brands that easily wear out in a span of short period.

9. Coach Has Its Own Identity

Coach is a subsidiary of Tapestry, Inc. which also own other brands such as Kate Spade New York and Stuart Weitzman. And even though Coach’s sister brands have a couple of products similar to Coach, the latter still has its own unique identity.

This is one of the things that makes a luxury brand successful. It needs to have its own unique identity that sets it apart from other brands. And even though it is part of a bigger company, Coach has been able to establish its own distinct identity in the market. In short, Coach is Coach for its design, materials, craftsmanship, and history.

How does Coach compare to other brands?

Coach definitely has its own unique identity compared to other brands. For one, its history cannot be identical to another brand. The same goes for its design and craftsmanship even though you can find counterpart products like bags from different brands, a Coach bag will always be different in design.

On the flip side, when you compare it with brands like Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel, the price tag is relatively lower. Its main competitors would be brands such as Michael Kors, Tory Burch, and Kate Spade.

But aside from the price, what makes Coach different from these brands is its focus on the American market. The particular brands mentioned have a strong presence in the global market today. Of course, Coach is too, but its main target remains the American people.

And this focus on the American market is what gives Coach an edge over its competitors just like how its claim to be “the original American house of leather“. It has been able to remain relevant and updated with the latest trends in the said country. It can go head-to-head with other brands like Ralph Lauren, Ambercrombie, and Tommy Hilfiger in terms of its American-inspired designs.

That said, this is one of the reasons why it continues to be a favorite luxury brand for many Americans and other countries (with American influence in fashion). One person can express luxury without breaking the bank. And this is evident since it is still able to thrive and be successful over the years.

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Do Coach Products Hold Value?

When it comes to Coach, there is no doubt that its products do hold value. In fact, many Coach products are considered to be collector’s items. Although, it doesn’t entirely mean that it can guarantee for the money you spent on its products, such as the bags, to be the same amount or more when reselling.

Although, Coach offers pre-loved bags on its website where the company upcycles or reimagines these bags to have a new look, particularly the vintage bags that they released before. The pre-loved bags that Coach sells are mostly from its trade-in program where customers can sell back to the company old (but still okay) bags for repurposing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do celebrities wear Coach?

Yes, as mentioned, Coach has collaborated with celebrities before which means that celebrities use the brand, for endorsement or not. Some of the most notable celebrities that were seen using Coach are Ashely Tisdale, Ashley Benson, Halle BerryEva Longoria, and Kristen Bell.

Why are some Coach bags cheap?

In reality Coach products, particularly its bags, are cheaper than other luxury brands in the same category. However, its price tag is still relatively expensive for an average person. For reference, a coach bag starts from $150 and could go up to $1,300.

According to Chic Pursuit, “Coach has thrived in the handbag industry for so long as its price point is lower than other luxury brands without having to compromise design or quality. Coach prides itself on creating bags that are made to last so that you don’t need to invest in a new designer bag every season.”

Where is Coach made?

Originally, Coach products use to be made exclusively in New York. However, due to the demand, the company is sourcing its products that are crafted by specialists in Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. But it is said that the limited edition products and special customs creations are still made in its headquarters which is in the Manhattan neighborhood.