The Stuart Touch

MC’s Fashion & Style Director Azza Arif gets a tête-à-tête with Coach’s Creative Director Stuart Vevers, who is responsible for reviving the American fashion house as a key player in the modern luxury world

- Azza Arif

Designer Stuart Vevers has taken Coach on a wild, exciting whirl since taking the helms in 2013, using his British background as an opportunity to provide a fresh and cultivated look at all things Americana. His glitter-riffic S/S18 collection for Coach 1941 that we attended for NYFW was a perfect example of how drastic the brand has changed since he lent his magic touch. For one, Coach has never been part of NYFW until Stuart joined, introducing ready-to-wear as a way to establish Coach as a fashion house, rather than just another leather goods brand. Meet Coach’s leading man.

Being British, how do you get your nostalgic Americana inspiration for Coach?

“I think, like most people who don’t live in the US, I grew up learning about American style and culture through music and film, so in many ways some of those things that I loved growing up are things that I still remember today, whether it’s the films of Terrence Malick, or others. So in many ways I revisit those ideas, but now I also get to research in more depth by travelling around America and exploring new things. Most summers I’ve tried to visit somewhere different in America so some of these ideas are coming from real experiences.”

What are your initial memories about New York?

“New York is a city that celebrates individuality, which is what makes it special. My first job after school was in New York, where I worked for Calvin Klein in the 90s. I’d never been to New York before, and was hired from interviews in the UK. I took the Brooklyn Bridge over to Manhattan for the first time, [that experience] was burned in my memory. It was magical.”