Johnny Coca starts his new role as Creative director at Mulberry on July 8. The designer was appointed for his new role 17 months after Emma Hill handed in her notice.
The announcement that Johnny Coca will join Mulberry on July 8, 2015 from Céline,where he was Head Design Director for Leather Goods, Shoes, Hard Accessories, Jewellery and Sunglasses, was a relief to Mulberry’s management and shareholders who have seen shares roller-coast and the label’s reputation buffeted in the past three years.
As Mulberry’s Creative Director, Coca will be responsible for all of Mulberry’s collections, reporting to Godfrey Davis, Chairman and CEO. Coca said: “I very much look forward to joining Mulberry as their new Creative Director and to leading a new design direction at one of the very best British Brands.”
Godfrey Davis added: “We are delighted that Johnny is joining us. He has a wealth of international luxury and fashion experience that will help us bring new energy and innovation to Mulberry.”
With experience in international luxury and fashion accessory design, Coca, who has had a distinguished career both at Celine and with the LVMH group, seems the perfect candidate to carry Mulberry out of its current plights – others allegedly considered for the role included Roland Mouret and Victoria Beckham.
Born in Seville to Spanish parents, Coca moved to France when he was just 16 to study art, architecture and design at the famed École des Beaux-Arts and École Boulle in Paris. His source of inspiration lies in his passion for fashion and design, art and architecture, film and music and he has a long-standing interest in and love of British culture and style.
His is renowned for his work on leather accessories and is responsible for some of the most internationally desired accessories, from the Trapeze bag to skater shoes. While at Céline Coca orchestrated an significant rise in sales, something Mulberry is hoping he will replicate for them.
A man of many talents, Coca regularly travels all over the world, speaks four languages and is said to be greatly looking forward to working in the UK and developing a new design aesthetic for Mulberry.
Coca teaches at Central St Martins and intends to ensure that Mulberry continues its tradition of encouraging new young talent as he helps to build the next generation at Mulberry.
Coca is responsible for the Celine Trapeze bag
