Celebrating seven glorious decades of French savoir-faire, luxury leather goods label Longchamp held its first ever runway show in New York City last September. A homage to the unmatched sensibilities of ’70s tastemakers, Anita Pallenberg and Veruschka, the collection is a seamless fusion of disco glam and Parisian chic.
Imagined by creative director Sophie Delafontaine, vibrant hues and spotless craftsmanship give the Amazone range of A/W 2018 a brand new edge. Paired with the stunning accents of Indian ikat, the bags are as ready to conquer the world as you.
In an exclusive chat with Delafontaine, we decoded the magic of the new Longchamp bags:
ELLE: What is the S/S 2019 collection all about?
Sophie Delafontaine: For Longchamp’s first fashion show, I had in mind a collection about ’70s glamour (the iconic era of Anita Pallenberg and Veruschka), the Californian spirit and the unparalleled elegance of Paris. It evokes dreamy desert drives and late nights in L.A.—the kind of scenarios that call for airy, feminine and transparent animal print dresses on top of leather bikinis or fringed jackets worn over soft macramé dresses.
ELLE: How many pieces are there in the collection?
SD: I wanted 40 key looks for my first ever Longchamp runway (in NYC).
ELLE: Please tell us a little bit about the choice of colours and materials used.
SD: The colour palette is influenced by the vibrancy of bright summer days. Rust-hued leathers are whip-stitched with turquoise leather, while black and white details lend an urban sense—a tribute of sorts to our decision to showcase the collection in New York City.
ELLE: Can you tell us about the craft techniques that were incorporated to create the pieces?
SD: Our collections are always a demonstration of Longchamp’s savoir-faire. Layered and fringed leather adorned with stones is an example of this expert craftsmanship.
ELLE: Please elaborate on the standout pieces in the collection
SD: For S/S 2019, exciting new variations and colours fuse Californian cool with Parisian elegance. The iconic padded Longchamp bag now comes in elegant tones of red, beige and grey lambskin. When vamped up in black patent leather, it exudes glamour. The denim-blue cotton canvas version, embroidered with interlaced rings, is perfect for a laid-back summer look. The pale pink ikat print, inspired by India, pops on the jacquard canvas Amazone bag trimmed with dainty red braiding. Fringes are also a key detail of this collection. This folksy interpretation flaunts tone-on-tone fringes on velvet calfskin in new shades of purple, sapphire and khaki. In yet another variation, a velvet lambskin hobo bag in Californian desert hues comes alive with a striking duo of contrasting fringes: emerald and cognac on brown, black and purple on cream, or cognac and black on rosewood. The signature python-embossed calfskin is showcased on an Amazone bag in all-new shades of purple, cognac and emerald. A new rock ‘n’ roll version in fringed black cowhide features a studded strap in patent python- embossed leather. It’s unique strap is paired with two more eccentric versions: a leopard-print canvas and lambskin bag, and a black hobo bag with a white goat fur trim.
ELLE: How did ikat come up as an inspiration for the Amazone bag?
SD: I wanted a more ethnic print like ikat to evoke the hippie-chic spirit of the ’70s.
ELLE: Which one is your favourite piece in this collection? Why?
SD: Recently, I have often carried a black padded Amazone bag because it’s chic. It’s a day-and-night bag, which is very convenient if you have to go straight to a cocktail party after work.
