Stuart Vevers, whom Style.com/Arabia interviewed last year while he was the Creative Director of Loewe, has been tapped by Coach, the New York-based handbag and accessories label, to replace current designer, Reed Krakoff, as he leaves to focus on growing his namesake line. Coach earned USD$1.04 billion in annual net income in 2012, while men’s business is expected to earn sales of more than USD$600 million globally and at least USD$400 million in sales will be coming mainly from Asia.
Talking to WWD, Coach President, Victor Luis, stated, “Stuart is recognized as one of the world’s leading accessories designers. His passion, leadership skills and broad luxury brand experience, focused on leather goods, uniquely qualify him to lead the next chapter of Coach. “I am confident that his creative expertise—grounded in accessories—will enable him to draw upon Coach’s rich history to create innovative product and brand imagery, elevating the customer experience and creating a fuller expression of the brand.” Frankfort added, “The appointment of Stuart Vevers marks an important milestone in our brand transformation, currently under way. We are extremely pleased that he will be leading our strong creative team already in place, bringing his unique aesthetic and personal style to Coach. His depth and breadth of experience will be an invaluable asset to the business in general—and the design team in particular—as we continue to evolve the brand.”
At Loewe, the 167-year-old Madrid-based brand that was acquired by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton in 1996, Vevers had a keen focus on developing the men’s bag business. That category grew 40 percent in 2012 over the prior year, according to reports from WWD, which said that market sources estimated that Loewe generates annual sales of USD$327.9 million.
Stuart Vevers will lead all the creative aspects of Coach, including women’s and men’s design, brand imagery, and store environments. Prior to his time at Loewe, Vevers served as creative director of Mulberry from 2005 to 2008, and other posts included Calvin Klein, Bottega Veneta, Givenchy, and Luis Vuitton. In 2006, the designer won the British Council’s Accessory Designer of the Year award.
