I understand completely. I always admired and coveted Coach bags in the 90's, but wasn't able to obtain one until 2001. And I still own it! Holding out till 2021 to add it to the vintage group [emoji16]
Vintage Coach Photos & Chat
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I wondered if you had bought it; I had seen it on the AT thread and went to check it out. It was very pretty
I'm sorry for the newbie question but what is the significance of bags made is Costa Rica? I have a gray Costa Rican made Willis I just got. Thanks!
Am new to vintage Coach bags. I've only got to see a few in person. Those on here who have gotten a feel for many more than me have shared that the Costa Rican bags tend to be a softer, chewy, buttery kind of leather (at least this is what I think they were suggesting). My impression is they just have a nice feel to them so I would like to own one made from there. I'm not sure of every style that was manufactured there, but online resale at the moment, shows things like Willis, Court, Sonoma, Sheridan, etc. And my remedial understanding is that Coach has manufactured in several countries (USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Turkey, Italy, Hungary, China, etc) so naturally folks just want to know what if any are the differences in bags from different countries (leather quality, etc). Now to narrow down what kind of Costa Rica bag I want (I think the Court style is at the top for me at the moment - still deciding).
This is just my experience: I have three vintage Costa Rican bags (and one more not vintage on the way!) and about 20 bags made in the USA from approximately 1965 through the early 2000's. (And one ugly vintage Willis from Turkey but we won't talk about that bag, it's been painted I think so I'm not sure how a Turkey made bag is supposed to feel.) ALL of my Costa Rican bags have that soft, chewy, buttery leather (my new favorite description, thank you!) while only my USA made 1995 Court and both of my 1960's/1970's Courier bags have that same luxurious feel to the leather. I have rehabbed several of my bags and the Costa Rican bags just felt nicer to me throughout the whole process and required less conditioner to soften up after a bath. Late 90's USA made bags also feel wonderful. Again, this is just my opinion, and I am no expert, but others seem to share these thoughts.
Aku_no_Hana, what do you think of your Costa Rican Willis? I think I just saw in the AT thread that you got a China made Court and a Mexican made Rambler's Legacy. Have you noticed a difference in how the leather feels between your three lovely bags?
I told myself the same thing, then I bought another bag..
I am struck by the Courier bags, but want the crossbody, not the shoulder strap version. Are all the smaller ones crossbody? Even the small ones seem to have straps shorter than what I would consider crossbody length.
Oh okay I understand. I have a Willis made in Costa Rica in 1999 that I just rehabbed. The leather is lovely!
Well, I haven't played with the Court much yet, but the leather on the Mexican Ramblers Legacy is super soft and smooshy and yummy. But I didn't dunk her, she needed just a coat of Apple. The Willis is gorgeous, the leather I feel is a bit dry still but she had a full bath so I'm confident she will soften back up with more moisturizing. I need more Willis bags!!! LOL
The original Courier Pouch #8920 was a shoulder bag with a 36" strap. I had one of the smaller ones and it also had the shoulder-length strap. You might find one with a longer strap if the strap was replaced.
I am so in love with the vintage Willis! It holds a lot! Way more than I would have thought. I feel like it will be a super versatile bag. I have typically gone for larger slouchier styles or totes but now I need more Willis bags! Can anyone tell me the name of the dark grayish color made in 1999? It looks almost brown in some lights. Reminds me of an elephant lol
Guess what? It was called dark grey.
Thanks. I keep seeing ones with 31 or 34 inch straps. Guess if I see a bag I like I should get it and maybe get a crossbody length strap elsewhere for when I want the option. The blog I read where I first saw it made it sound like smalls all had the longer strap oh well.
Back when they were made, Coach offered replacement straps. At the time of the purchase for some styles, you could choose a different strap, so it is possible you could find one with a longer strap. However, crossbody wasn't a thing back then.