Craig Costello, aka Krink
More often than not, guys’ accessories get the short end of the design stick. A messenger is a messenger, a briefcase a briefcase, with a few exceptions. Basically, a guy has a limited amount of choices for which brand he wants to carry, unlike the fairer sex’s constant wrestle with It-bags, statement clutches and the frenzy of logomania. It’s been changing, for sure, but there is still much room for growth. Now Coach, the stalwart American leathergoods company, is expanding its offerings for men with a limited-edition collaboration featuring street artist Craig Costella, who goes by the pseudonym Krink, and in doing so is finally breathing some life into the staid circle of men’s accessories.
Having worked previously with Hugo Guiness on two collections, the new Krink collection follows the same mold. Classic Coach pieces are given to the artist, who then lends his signature style to the items. For Krink, that meant applying his now famous drip technique and spray can spritzes onto iconic items such as Coach’s Bleeker Street Tote and the brand’s sleek iPad sleeve.
Krink for Coach tote
Krink for Coach iPad sleeve
The pieces in the Krink collaboration start at $98 and run upwards of $798, and include items such as the aforementioned iPad sleeve and tote in addition to luggage tags, wallets, a zippered portfolio and more.
Krink is no stranger to collaboration. He’s lent his dripping motifs to brands such as inCase, Nike, G-Shock and more before working with Coach. Together, Krink and the design team at Coach worked for over a year to perfect each piece, using a specific 30-step screening process to achieve the artist’s signature depth and texture on each design.
Fans of Coach can also be on the lookout for another collab in the works. Billy Reid, recipient of the CFDA’s Menswear Designer of the Year Award in 2012, debuted a capsule collection of men’s accessories for Coach during his presentation at New York Fashion Week earlier this week.
The collection will be available in select Coach boutiques and on www.coach.com starting March 1.
Photos courtesy Coach
