For nearly 80 years, the New York luxury leather game has been dominated by Coach: a brand who blossomed from their heritage as a maker of handbags and accessories into one of the most respected fashion houses under the helm of Stuart Vevers. They’re also renowned for their killer collaborative work, crossing paths with everyone from Keith Haring’s estate to Disney in the past. Now, they can add another string to an already accomplished bow, and it might just be their coolest one yet.
Yup, a week after their AW20 collection hit the New York Fashion Week runway, a link-up with Japanese streetwear gods A BATHING APE has been revealed. The collection, which includes menswear and womenswear, sees the iconic ape head motif of BAPE and Coach’s elegant, cursive C join forces in pattern-heavy pieces.
Our favourites? The monogrammed puffers, black leather jackets and the shark’s head hoodies; familiar riffs on old BAPE pieces elevated into the luxury sphere with Coach’s stamp of approval. And it wouldn’t be a Coach collaboration without some accessories too: the cross-body bags and purses are bound to be snapped up quick.
The campaign was shot by New York’s favourite young photographer Quil Lemons across two different continents to signify this international link-up. Musician Quincy Brown rocked the collection in the streets of Williamsburg, while the model and songwriter Kōki flexed it in Tokyo. Desperate to get your hands on it? Well, there’s not much longer to wait. The BAPE x Coach collab launches online and in select stores around the world on 22 February. Act fast or regret it.
