Stop everything! Coach has a new face for their Fall 2019 collection! Coach has become a household name creating one-of-a-kind designer purses, clutches, shoulder bags, and other luxury accessories. Last week the style powerhouse announced that its style icons for the Fall 2019 campaign will be Iranian-American Yara Shahidi and Michael B. Jordan. The Black Panther star will be featured alongside the 19-year-old superstar Shahidi who has already starred in similar ad campaigns for high-end products.
Yara Shahidi is the Gen Z that is making waves at home and abroad. Best known for her roles on the popular American sitcoms Black-ish and spin-off show Grown-ish Shahidi is more than an actress but a social and political activist whose commitment to bringing diversity and representation to everything she touches is empowering. Shahidi’s father is an Iranian filmmaker and her mother is African American giving Shahidi a unique voice and perspective. She told Net-a-Porter, “On one side of my family is the list of people who can’t enter the US from certain countries and on the other side are those who are familiar with what it’s like being black in America.” This self-awareness and dedication to inclusivity is what sets Shahidi apart and makes her an inspiration for Coach and for fans around the world.
Coach’s theme, “Dream It Real” will envoke “the spirit of New York City, inspiring 21st Century dreamers everywhere to believe in themselves and life’s infinite possibilities,” according to a press release by the company. The campaign itself and its carefree and positive vibe are what attracted Shahidi to want to participate in the first place. In an interview with People Magazine Yara said, “Focusing on dreaming your biggest dream, really spoke to me because imagination and hope, to me, is foundational in creating personal and global change. Increasing accessibility and resources on a philanthropic level makes this campaign more than just messaging, but can turn dreams into reality.”
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Amy N. Pugsley