Handbag Designer Johnny Coca Exits Louis Vuitton

Johnny Coca has exited Louis Vuitton after five-and-a-half years as its director of women’s fashion leather goods and accessories, WWD has learned.

One of the industry’s most prominent handbag wizards, Coca is probably best known for his work under Phoebe Philo at Celine, which became a major player in elite handbags and accessories.

He went on to spend five years as Mulberry’s creative director before being recruited by Vuitton, where he had worked earlier in his career.

Contacted by WWD on Tuesday, Vuitton confirmed that the brand and the designer had decided to part ways.

Coca “brought his expertise and creativity to the collections and successfully launched the Louis Vuitton Accessories Design Graduates Initiative,” Vuitton said in a brief statement, adding “the house wishes him the best in his future endeavors.”

For his part, Coca thanked “Louis Vuitton and the LVMH Group for the opportunity of these past years together. I am grateful to the talented teams I had the pleasure of collaborating with in crafting remarkable collections. Together, we honored the heritage of the house and carried forward a strong creative vision.

“Now it is time for me to continue on my own path with the same passion and commitment. I will always hold this chapter of my career in high regard,” he added.

His next move could not immediately be learned.

Coca was part of a leather goods team lead by Nicolas Ghesquière, Vuitton’s artistic director of women’s collections since 2013. When Coca joined in 2020, his initial focus was on high-end bags and show pieces.

Coca started his career as a leather goods designer at Vuitton, working there from 1996 to 2000.

At Mulberry, the designer helped transform the British brand into a luxury lifestyle proposition, creating new bag families including the Amberley and Iris, introducing eyewear and sneaker categories and relaunching men’s accessories and jewelry ranges. He oversaw women’s and men’s leather accessories, shoes, ready-to-wear and soft accessories, and all aspects of the brand’s image.

Before joining Mulberry, Coca was head design director for leather goods, accessories, shoes and jewelry at Celine from 2010 until 2015.

Born in Seville to Spanish parents, Coca later moved to Paris, where he studied art, architecture and design at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts, École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Malaquais and École Boulle in Paris, respectively.

The multilingual Coca also worked at Bally from 2004 to 2010.