Longchamp (company)
Encyclopedia
Longchamp is a French leather and luxury goods company.
Longchamp was founded by Jean Cassegrain in 1948, and the company employed individual craftsmen dispersed throughout the Loire valley
countryside to create leather coverings for pipes and other products geared toward smokers. By 1955, it had expanded to include small leather goods, opening its first factory in Segré
. By the 1970s, Longchamp opened its first boutiques in Hong Kong and Japan, and became known for its lightweight travel goods.
In 1980, the founder's son and current company president, Philippe Cassegrain took the helm and began expanding its retail and factory locations into Belgium and Germany. The company also began producing clothing, scarves
, and other fashion accessories.
In 1993, Longchamp introduced its "Le Pliage" line, a collection of foldable travel bags made of vinyl and leather trim. Its popularity has allowed the Longchamp brand to penetrate new markets abroad, including the United States.
Today, in addition to its heritage as a leather goods firm, Longchamp has cultivated a devoted following and brand that is now known for its designs. Venturing into partnerships with notable designers, artists and celebrities has seen the likes of Thomas Heatherwick
design Longchamp's SoHo
boutique
, and Tracey Emin
and model Kate Moss
create special collections. Moss has also appeared in a number of Longchamp advertising
campaigns.
Longchamp was founded by Jean Cassegrain in 1948, and the company employed individual craftsmen dispersed throughout the Loire valley
Loire Valley
The Loire Valley , spanning , is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River in central France. Its area comprises approximately . It is referred to as the Cradle of the French Language, and the Garden of France due to the abundance of vineyards, fruit orchards, and artichoke, asparagus, and...
countryside to create leather coverings for pipes and other products geared toward smokers. By 1955, it had expanded to include small leather goods, opening its first factory in Segré
Segré
Segré is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.-Geography:The town of Segré is the most southern part of the commune, where the Verzée flows into the Oudon River.-External links:*...
. By the 1970s, Longchamp opened its first boutiques in Hong Kong and Japan, and became known for its lightweight travel goods.
In 1980, the founder's son and current company president, Philippe Cassegrain took the helm and began expanding its retail and factory locations into Belgium and Germany. The company also began producing clothing, scarves
Scarf
A scarf is a piece of fabric worn around the neck, or near the head or around the waist for warmth, cleanliness, fashion or for religious reasons. They can come in a variety of different colours.-History:...
, and other fashion accessories.
In 1993, Longchamp introduced its "Le Pliage" line, a collection of foldable travel bags made of vinyl and leather trim. Its popularity has allowed the Longchamp brand to penetrate new markets abroad, including the United States.
Today, in addition to its heritage as a leather goods firm, Longchamp has cultivated a devoted following and brand that is now known for its designs. Venturing into partnerships with notable designers, artists and celebrities has seen the likes of Thomas Heatherwick
Thomas Heatherwick
Thomas Heatherwick is an English designer known for innovative use of engineering and materials in public monuments and sculptures...
design Longchamp's SoHo
SoHo
SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...
boutique
Boutique
A boutique is a small shopping outlet, especially one that specializes in elite and fashionable items such as clothing and jewelry. The word is French for "shop", via Latin from Greek ἀποθήκη , "storehouse"....
, and Tracey Emin
Tracey Emin
Tracey Karima Emin RA is a British artist of English and Turkish Cypriot origin. She is part of the group known as Britartists or YBAs ....
and model Kate Moss
Kate Moss
Kate Moss is an English model. Moss is known for her waifish figure and popularising the heroin chic look in the 1990s. She is also known for her controversial private life, high profile relationships, party lifestyle, and drug use. Moss changed the look of modelling and started a global debate on...
create special collections. Moss has also appeared in a number of Longchamp advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
campaigns.
See also
- Leather craftingLeather craftingLeather crafting or simply Leathercraft is the practice of making leather into craft objects or works of art, using shaping techniques, coloring techniques or both.-Dyeing:...
- Jeremy Scott for Longchamp, JCReport.com