Coach recently launched Coach x Observed By Us, a collection designed in collaboration with Los Angeles-based illustrator and designer Jessica Herschko and actor Kirsten Dunst.
A celebration of the spirit of imagination and wonder found in everyday things, the collection features the whimsical artwork of the duo, reimagined through the lens of the house’s American design language. The collection features ready-to-wear, bags, footwear and accessories that capture the collaborators’ appreciation for iconic American archetypes like t-shirts, hoodies, floral dresses and jeans, reimagined with hand-made touches.
To create the collection, Coach Creative Director Stuart Vevers and the duo took inspiration from pieces found in Dunst’s closet, blending the playfulness and nostalgia that defines her personal style with the house’s heritage of craftsmanship and spirit of self-expression. The collaboration’s color palette is inspired by Coach’s heritage colors explored in saturated hues that convey an offbeat, youthful naiveté.
Key pieces in the collaboration include a wool pointelle crop top, overalls and a straw hat – each printed and embellished with original, hand-drawn illustrations by Herschko. Additionally, the pieces feature unique storypatches – a Coach code and a symbol of authenticity for generations – with stories written in Herschko’s handwriting that tell the stories of illustrations in the collection. For example, one story touches on a character’s imaginative journey featuring a sailboat, strawberries and dinosaurs – a nod to Rexy, Coach’s house mascot – brought to life with embroidery on the Swinger bag in Signature.
“Creating this collection with Kirsten and Jessica was delightful. We got to celebrate our shared love of imagination and playfulness. Kirsten, and her style, has often been an inspiration for me,” said Vevers. “So, to design alongside her and Jessica, and to blend their vivid storytelling and color with our own American heritage design language and craftsmanship was really inspiring.”
“We started Observed By Us to create clothing and other items with images that evoke a special, happy feeling and a sense of appreciation for both the natural and the man made,” said Herschko. “It was very fun to collaborate with Coach because, much like us, they see a world of possibility in the small details and have the ability to execute that perfectly.”
