By Rachel Abrams
New York Times
Feb. 11, 2017
Miles Cahn, who with his wife founded the Coach Leatherware Company, which helped redefine the American handbag as both chic and practical, died on Friday at his home in Manhattan. He was 95.
His death was confirmed by his son-in-law, the chef Mario Batali.
Mr. Cahn and his wife, Lillian Cahn, founded Coach in 1961 after buying a small wallet manufacturer on West 34th Street and renaming it.
It was at Mrs. Cahn’s suggestion that they began producing their first generation of women’s handbags. She was impressed by the quality of a flexible cowhide used in baseball gloves.