Coach has taken its first step to become an all-encompassing men’s label under new creative director Stuart Vevers, with its first-ever collection of men’s footwear.
The Fall ’14 line, set to hit stores Sept. 1, blends rich Italian suede and leather with classic silhouettes, including lace-ups and monk straps. On the sportier side, expect to see leather lifestyle sneakers and lug-soled boots in a traditional men’s palette of black, mahogany, espresso and cognac. Retail prices range from $175 to $495.
Coach plans to open the line to wholesale next year, but for now, the men’s line will share the sales floor in stores with the retailer’s broad selection for women.
Since 2010, Coach has built its men’s product from a $100 million category to $700 million business. And despite a staff overhaul last month that resulted in 150 job cuts, the American luxury label has been garnering the attention of style-setters, thanks in part to a glossy summer ad campaign featuring model Lexi Boling shot by celebrity fashion photographer Steven Meisel. The company also debuted its first collection of women’s ready-to-wear at New York Fashion Week earlier this year, leading the industry to wonder whether a men’s apparel line is next.