fbpx vie magazine subscribe button

The Art of Darkness

Coach + Chelsea Champlain and the Wild, Styled West

By Jordan Staggs  |  Photography courtesy of Coach

There are runway shows, and then there are runway productions that evoke masterfully artistic strokes of genius that will be remembered. Creative director Stuart Vevers set the stage at New York Fashion Week’s Fall 2018 shows with his Coach 1941 runway presentation as guests were taken on a journey into the woods and through the dark ethereal beauty of the American West.

As the lights dimmed and crackling TV screens set the spine-tingling tone of the show, models began their jaunt through a makeshift forest with fallen leaves and evening fog that immediately transported viewers into the chill of an autumn evening. The fall collection reflected this dark side of style, with a nod to Western fashion: big florals, bandana patterns, tassels, studs, and braids, and, of course, signature leather pieces that included bags, shoes, and jackets. Many of those pieces took the Gothic West theme to the next level with custom artwork by Colorado native Chelsea Champlain, who has been painting on vintage bags—many of them Coach brand—for the past few years and sharing them on her social media networks.

We caught up with Champlain to discuss her roots, the art of darkness, and her Coach collab for this year’s Art & Culture Issue!

Coach + Chelsea Champlain handbags

VIE: Have you always wanted to be an artist for a living? 

Chelsea Champlain: When I was younger, I wanted to work on motorcycles. My dad rides motorcycles and was usually in the garage fixing them up. I look up to him a lot. So, naturally, that’s what I wanted to do. My mother was always incredibly artistic, so you could say that it’s in my blood. I didn’t truly get my start until I was eighteen. I was working in a tattoo studio as a body piercing artist. It was there that I met some very talented artists who started showing me the way and I started to develop my skills on a more professional level.

VIE: How would you describe your personal style, in both the artistic sense and the fashion sense?

CC: A lot of my inspiration is pulled from the darker side of western. I’m from Colorado. I like combining elements of delicate macabre with a hint of elegance. It flows into my style, too.

Coach + Chelsea Champlain handbags

VIE: When did you begin painting on vintage bags and other items and selling them? 

CC: It was about two years ago when I painted my first bag. I had painted many other things, but none of them took off—not like the bags, at least. It all started one night when my best friend and I had a few drinks. We decided we were dissatisfied with life. I don’t think we knew what that meant or what we were going to do, for that matter. I had just been in a rut and feeling a little down. I had quit my job as a tattooist and had no real outlet for art anymore. Art has always given me a sense of self-worth. Without it, I feel lost.

As it turns out, we were still serious the next day. My friend does embroidery, and I paint. So, we just kind of did our thing. I painted some bags and posted pictures on social media. I knew I had something because they were all selling fast. Before I knew it, my inbox had quite a few requests.

Coach + Chelsea Champlain handbags

VIE: What do you think drew you to work on Coach items in particular?

CC: I have to go back and give the credit to my friend Kaila. She gave me my first Coach bag.

She is probably one of the best saleswomen they never knew they had. Also, Coach’s vintage collection is amazing—all around quality and style.

VIE: How did you get connected with Stuart Vevers for the Fall 2018 Coach collection? 

CC: Fate. I think the whole story is one of fate. We should just call this “A Series of Fortunate Events.” My friend made me go into the Coach store with her because I had never been in one. An employee saw my bag, which I had painted, and stopped me so she could show everyone. She asked if I had an Instagram; I did not at the time. She said I really should try to contact Coach. The next day I thought to myself, “What is the worst that can happen? He’s probably not even going to see it anyway.” So I gave Stuart a tag here and there, and, of course, he sees it! I received a message about a week later.

Coach + Chelsea Champlain handbags

VIE: What was the process like to create art for the new fall collection and how did it feel to see it come to life on the runway?

CC: I designed a few things on paper, but they didn’t have the right feel. Stuart wanted a real and authentic feel, so I actually ended up hand painting a lot of the bags that went down the runway, along with some shoes and a couple of leather jackets. The process of painting on a bag is very different from paper—every bag is uniquely shaped. The hardware and straps are all in different places. I take that into account when I design a layout. The bag inspires the artwork, and the artwork is meant for that exact bag. It wouldn’t flow correctly on any other bag. That’s why they are so special.

VIE: Do you have a favorite piece from the collection?

CC: It’s hard to say. I really love all of the men’s bags. They featured the Bonnie Cashin bag on the runway and that’s probably my favorite!

Coach + Chelsea Champlain handbags

VIE: What advice would you give to artists who are trying to make their mark in the world?

CC: Listen. Listen to your gut. Listen to your heart. If you see a door, knock. As much as fate played a role in this collaboration, I had to take those steps. I had to learn to grow and move forward, even when I wanted to give up. I think my husband has heard me say at least a handful of times that I just wanted to quit everything that involved art. It was a struggle.

So never stop. Each day is a new one to take the horse by the reins.

— V —


Visit Champlain’s Instagram @chelseachamplain to see more projects and Coach.com to view or purchase the brand’s latest collections.



Read Responsibly

VIE Magazine September 2023 Jay Mercado
VIE Magazine - The Art & Design Issue November 2021
VIE Magazine January 2021 Special Commemorative Edition
VIE Magazine September 2020 Wanderlust Issue, Fancy Camps, The Idea Boutique
VIE Magazine August 2020 Art & Culture Issue, Nathan Alan Yoakum Art
VIE Magazine - Architecture & Design Issue - July 2020
VIE Magazine - Decor and Home Issue - June 2020
VIE Magazine May 2020 Entertainment Issue, Leslie Odom Jr
VIE Magazine - April 2020 Culinary Issue
VIE Magazine March 2020 The Fashion Edit, VONDOM, Alys Beach Fl, Digital Graffiti, Tres Chic, isidro dunbar Modern Interiors, Digital Graffiti Festival
VIE Magazine February 2020 Health & Beauty Issue
VIE Magazine - Travel Issue - January 2020 - Tanzania Safari Cover
VIE Magazine - Women's Issue - December 2019 - Tina Brown Cover
VIE NOV19 Goodness Issue
VIE Magazine, September 2019 Art & Culture Issue, Paul Hanninen
VIE Magazine - August 2019 - The Architecture and Design Issue
VIE Magazine - July 2019 - The Artist Issue
VIE Magazine - June 2019 - Fashion Edit
VIE Magazine - May 2019 - Culinary Issue
VIE Magazine - April 2019 - The Health & Wellness Issue
VIE Magazine - Special Entertainment Edition - March 2019
VIE Magazine February 2019 Luxury Homes & Technology Issue with Robbie Antonio of Revolution Precrafted
VIE Magazine - January 2019 - Southern Sophisticate Issue Cover
VIE Magazine - Special Anniversary Travel Edition - December 2018
VIE Magazine - The Goodness Issue - November 2018
VIE Magazine - The Art & Culture Issue - October 2018
VIE Magazine - Home & Garden Issue - September 2018
VIE Magazine - August 2018 Animal Issue
VIE Magazine - July 2018 Architecture & Design Issue - Subscribe to the magazine!
VIE Magazine - June 2018 Travel & Tech Issue
VIE Magazine - May 2018 Couture Issue
VIE Magazine - The Culinary Issue - April 2018 Cover - Chef James Briscione and Brooke Parkhurst
VIE Magazine - The Entertainers Issue - March 2018
VIE Magazine - February 2018 Destination Travel Issue
VIE Magazine - January 2018 Health & Beauty Issue
VIE Magazine, The Sophisticate Issue, December 2017
VIE Magazine - November 2017 Art & Culture Issue
VIE Magazine - October 2017 Home & Garden Issue
VIE Magazine | September 2017 | The Stories and Storytellers Issue
VIE Magazine - The Adventure Issue - August 2017
VIE Magazine - July 2017 - Art & Artist Issue
VIE Magazine - The Voyager Issue - June 2017
VIE magazine 2017 March-April Cover South Walton Fashion Week
VIE Magazine - January/February 2017 - The Health & Beauty Issue
VIE Magazine - Nov/Dec 2016 The Sophisticate Issue
christian siriano vie magazine september october 2016 vie magazine
the modern minimalist issue
Summertime!
the culinary and couture issue march april 2016 vie magazine
the voyager issue alys beach vie magazine january february 2016
cultural issue vie magazine november december 2015
home and garden issue vie magazine september october 2015
the art and style issue vie magazine july august 2015
the wedding issue 2015 May June vie magazine
the food and fashion issue vie magazine march april 2015
the travel issue vie magazine january february 2015
the music issue vie magazine 2014 november december
The Animal Issue vie magazine september october 2014
the home and garden issue vie magazine july august 2014
the wedding issue vie magazine may june 2014
emeril lagasse food and fashion vie magazine
the men's issue january february 2014
the music issue november december 2013 vie magazine
the home and garden issue 2013 october september
the wedding issue vie magazine july august 2013
the artist issue may june 2013 vie magazine
the food and fashion issue march april 2013
the men's issue january february 2013 vie magazine
The Holiday Issue
the love issue july august 2012
the all american summer may june 2012
the entertainment issue march april 2012
the fashion issue vie magazine winter 2011
the home and garden issue vie magazine fall 2011
the anniversary edition vie magazine summer 2011
the wedding issue vie magazine spring 2011
vie magazine the holiday issue 2010 Dec
vintage swimsuits vie magazine 2010 Fall
judith march designer vie magazine summer 2010
wedding giveaway vie magazine spring 2010
holiday gift guide vie magazine winter 2009
emarketing explosion vie magazine fall 2009
tribute to mother's day vie magazine summer 2009
james and robert redford vie magazine spring 2009
zz top vie magazine fall winter 2008
project dreams vie magazine new york fashion week
Sign-up for VIEmail

Sign up for VIEmail


X

A LIFESTYLE