It’s a big one! Coach has been around for 75 years — so long that your mom and grandma likely have Coach bags in their closets. So how does the brand plan on celebrating such a big birthday? By hosting a worldwide auction of newly embellished vintage bags starting Wednesday, October 19.
The auctioned pieces include three iconic Coach silhouettes: the Duffle (which originated in 1971), the Saddle (1972) and the Dinky (1973). But beyond that, they are almost unrecognizable, embellished to fit into one of three themes: “Friends of Coach” (inspired by creative director Stuart Vevers‘ celeb friends and muses), the runway hits (pulled straight from the catwalk) and over-the-top embellishments, making the most of studs, fringe and more.
The “Friends of Coach” group is especially cool, as each bag is directly inspired by one of Hollywood’s style stars. There’s the Kate Bosworth, a classic black-and-white cross-body purse with a gold chain and fringe. The Zoë Kravitz hobo boasts a rich emerald hue with loads and loads of fringe. And then there’s a bag inspired by the label’s current brand ambassador, Chloë Grace Moretz. This stunner not only features rhinestone studding but a guitar strap handle too.
But no matter the bag’s unique accents, each one was remade to “pay homage to Coach’s long-standing history and iconic styles, but re-imagined for today’s modern Coach girl,” according to a release.
The best part is, the sales will benefit the preservation of iconic fashion. The first $50,000 will go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, which fights to preserve the history of style while also advancing fashion as an art form.
You can preview the items here beginning on Friday, October 14, at 9:30 a.m. ET, before the auction launches on October 19 at 12 p.m. ET until 5 p.m. ET on Friday, October 28. To preview and to bid the lots, auction users will need to create an account on Paddle8.
