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SAINT LAURENT appoints Johnny Coca as creative director of leather goods

Posted On February 16, 2026 CPP-LUXURY 0

Under the leadership of CEO Cédric Charbit, SAINT LAURENT has appointed Johnny Coca creative director of men’s and women’s leather goods, as well as all accessories and lifestyle collections. The designer confirmed persistent rumours of the appointment over the weekend on his LinkedIn account. His remit will be to express Anthony Vaccarello’s creative vision across the brand’s leather goods and accessories ranges.

Before joining Saint Laurent, the 50-year-old designer was director of women’s leather goods at Louis Vuitton, to which he returned in 2020. After studying at the Boulle and Duperré schools in Paris, the Spanish-born designer began his career at Louis Vuitton’s Asnières workshops. He spent five years as creative director of the British house Mulberry, where he designed bags such as the Amberley and the Iris. His time at Céline during the Phoebe Philo era remains one of the most significant periods of his career; he notably oversaw the development of iconic bags such as the Trapeze and the Trio.

This appointment comes at a time of transformation for the Kering group. According to the financial results for the 2025 financial year, the group reported revenue of €14.7 billion. Within this total, Saint Laurent generated annual revenue of €2.6 billion. Although this figure was down 6% year on year on a comparable basis, the label maintained solid profitability, with a recurring operating margin of 20%.

Johnny Coca’s arrival forms part of a strategy to consolidate the brand’s growth pillars. By bringing in an expert renowned for helping to drive the success of global ‘It bags’, Saint Laurent aims to strengthen the appeal of its accessory lines while remaining perfectly aligned with the silhouette and allure defined by Anthony Vaccarello.