14 Facts About Miles Cahn

Miles Cahn was an American businessman and designer who co-founded the Coach Leatherware Company, now known as Coach, Inc.

Under the guidance of Lillian and Miles Cahn, Coach was among the first to introduce lines of purses and handbags that were both fashionable and practical.

Miles Cahn was born on April 18,1921, in New York City to Russian Jewish immigrant parents, Jacob and Fanny Miles Cahn.

Miles Cahn's parents were refugees who had fled from Russia to the United States to escape the Russian Revolution.

Miles Cahn enrolled at the City College of New York, but left to serve in the United States Army's 78th Infantry Division during World War II.

Miles Cahn returned to the City College of New York after the war and received his degree in business administration.

Miles Cahn's father was one of four investors who had each invested $1,000 in 1941 to help start the company.

In 1946, Miles Cahn joined Gail Leather for $50 a week.

Miles and Lillian Cahn owned and operated a separate leather manufacturing company.

Lillian Miles Cahn designed the first Coach handbag, a shopping bag purse, which she based on the paper shopping bags she had delivered as a child for her family's business in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Miles and Lillian Cahn hired designer Bonnie Cashin, who created some of Coach's other signature bags and accessories, including the bucket bag and tongue bag, as well as Coach's trademark turn lock fastenings.

Miles Cahn took out a full-page ad in the New York Times, addressed to then President Richard Nixon, to protest the Vietnam War.

In 2003, Miles Cahn wrote about their experiences as farmers and cheesemakers in "The Perils and Pleasures of Domesticating Goat Cheese".

Miles Cahn was survived by his three children - Julie Cahn, David Cahn and Susi Cahn, wife of celebrity chef Mario Batali; and five grandchildren.