Coach is a popular American brand known for high-quality items that could pass for luxury – except that they are affordable. On the other hand, Lacoste is also a popular French brand particularly known for its iconic crocodile logo. Both are great brands to call your go-to label and would make a fine addition to your wardrobe. However, if you can’t afford to use both (or simply don’t want to), the hard part comes: choosing.
Choosing between two great brands can be difficult – or not, depending on what you’re looking for. In this comparison guide between Lacoste and Coach, we will help you weigh their qualities and decide which one is best for you. There is something everyone is looking for in a fashion brand; once you can pinpoint that “something,” choosing gets easier. Thus, follow us as we compare different attributes of Coach and Lacoste, including their quality level and price points.
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Lacoste History vs. Coach History
Before we get into the characteristics of the brands, let us do a little comparison of their histories. As you know, a brand’s heritage is a big part of what it stands for; it is its foundation. Rene Lacoste started the Lacoste brand in 1933, introducing lightweight petit cotton polo shirts to the world’s tennis courts. Rene himself was a tennis player, the best between 1926 and 1927 before he established his brand.
His prowess on the court earned him the title, Lacoste, “The Crocodile”, which he liked and from which the brand’s logo came. The Lacoste brand joined forces with Andre Gillier in 1933 to produce polo shirts perfectly suited for the tennis court. These shirts were famous for their flexibility and lightweight features, making moving around on the court comfortable. By 1950, the brand had become popular and today has stores in boutiques across the globe.
On the other hand, Coach started as a family business in 1941; it was originally named “Coach New York.” It became a full-fledged fashion brand in 1946 when Miles and Lilian Cahn joined it, contributing their knowledge of leatherworks and business. Bonnie Cashin became Coach’s first head designer in 1962, bringing refreshed colors and designs with an added element of individuality. The Coach brand drew inspiration from New York City, adding an ethos of love and care for the community.
The Coach brand has always been about commitment and caring for its community, which is why it established the Coach Foundation. The foundation aims to support organizations and charities established to educate and empower women and children globally.
Lacoste vs. Coach: Which Is More Expensive?
Coach is significantly more expensive than Lacoste, with its handbag collections going as high as $1,000 and even higher. Coach is particularly known for its exquisite handbags, which cost between $150 and $795, depending on the material and size. For instance, a large leather Coach handbag will typically cost more than a smaller bag made with coated canvas.
Compared to Louis Vuitton and some higher-end brands in the industry, Coach is affordable – but Lacoste is more affordable.
On the other hand, Lacoste has a wide range of items to offer, including perfume, polo shirts, sweaters, and sweatshirts. These items range from $90 and $358, depending on the item, size, material, and quality level. For example, Lacoste is best known for its polo shirts, which cost between $90 and $189, indicating high quality. Meanwhile, its sweaters and sweatshirts range between $98 and $295, depending on the style and material used.
Furthermore, Lacoste is known to collaborate with other brands, and items in this collection often cost higher. Lacoste bags cost between $88 and $358, its watches range between $95 and $195, and its shoes cost between $80 and $190.
Lacoste vs. Coach: Which Brand Has Higher Quality?
You can tell Lacoste’s quality from its materials in making its items. For instance, the brand uses cotton and wool for its clothing, sometimes blending them with rayon, polyester, and polyamide. This combination of materials ensures the durability of the clothes, explaining why they don’t shrink when washed in a washing machine. Additionally, the Lacoste brand’s shoes are made from leather, textile, and nubuck, ensuring their durability, comfort, and style.
Lacoste items aren’t as expensive as other luxury brands, but that’s because of the materials used – not the quality. Although not as luxurious as the lambskin or calf leather used by higher-end luxury brands, Lacoste items are high-quality. Furthermore, most Lacoste handbags are made from PVC, while some feature split cow leather, something a luxury brand doesn’t use.
Meanwhile, the Coach brand is well-known for using high-quality leather, including smooth, Nappa, natural, and pebbled leather for its items. The leather materials ensure the luxurious finish you see on Coach items and explain their incredible durability.
Additionally, Coach uses less-exotic but high-quality materials like canvas, nylon, suede, and cotton for consumers on a tight budget. These materials are also perfect if you’re a vegetarian or are simply not interested in leather fashion items.
Coach vs. Lacoste: Which Brand Should You Go For?
Regardless of our thoughts about both brands, your preference is what matters at the end of the day. By comparing both brands’ quality and price points, you can decide which one to go for. Both brands are a good choice if you’re on a tight budget, but Lacoste contains more options for affordable items. Also, while both brands feature great quality in their items, Coach has higher quality, which explains why it is more expensive.
Lacoste is the go-to brand if you need high-quality yet affordable casual and sports clothing. Regarding handbags, we recommend Coach hands-down; the brand’s bags are a staple on the fashion market. Where Coach is a great brand for contemporary and stylish designs, Lacoste is great for high-quality and durable clothing.
Conclusion
After considering the differences in quality, price points, and other important areas of these two iconic brands, you can decide. Coach and Lacoste are both mid-range brands, although Coach is more expensive than Lacoste. Thus, if you are looking for fashion items for a tight budget, Lacoste would probably suit you best. Coach also has a wide range of affordable items and features great quality.