Persimmon

Era

cashin

Era code

E2

Confidence

tentative

Status

published

Persimmon

Lead

Persimmon is a Cashin-era orange Coach color documented on the inaugural Cashin Carry tote [yourgreatfinds-collectors-guide]. The research record specifically flags a “Persimmon orange variant documented with narrow kiss lock and double straps” (research/D-models.md). Because the Cashin Carry was Bonnie Cashin’s earliest Coach work — Fall 1962 collection — Persimmon is one of the few Coach colors with a plausible early era anchor (E2 / Cashin era).

Description

Persimmon reads as a warm, slightly red-leaning orange — named for the persimmon fruit. On Coach’s drum-dyed-through Cashin-era leather (see authentication/leather.md), Persimmon’s cut edge should match the surface color. Cashin’s color choices for Coach were unusual within the leather-goods market of the early 1960s, when bright saturated colors on glove-tanned cowhide were uncommon; Persimmon belongs to that distinguishing palette.

Models documented in Persimmon

The following models are documented in Persimmon in the working research files [yourgreatfinds-collectors-guide]:

• Cashin Carry tote — Persimmon orange variant documented with narrow kiss-lock and double straps (research/D-models.md). Note that the turnlock closure was introduced in 1964 per research/H/vintagefashionguild-cashin; 1962–63 Cashin Carry examples used kiss-lock or other closures, consistent with the Persimmon variant’s narrow kiss-lock

The per-model catalog of Persimmon offerings beyond Cashin Carry is open.

Authentication

• Persimmon should pass the standard drum-dyed-through edge-color check: the cut edge reads the same warm orange as the surface (see authentication/leather.md). A contrasting under-color is a fake or reproduction signal
• A Cashin Carry claiming Persimmon should be cross-checked against the closure type: kiss-lock and double straps are documented for the Persimmon variant; a turnlock Persimmon Cashin Carry would be 1964 or later (still within Cashin’s tenure but post the earliest Cashin Carry production)
• Cashin attribution is a high-folklore zone (see STYLE.md §4). Cashin’s contract ended in 1974; bags introduced after 1974 are not Cashin designs regardless of color or silhouette. A Persimmon Coach bag dated post-1974 is not Cashin-era

Era anchoring

Persimmon is anchored to the Cashin era (E2, 1962–1974) via the Cashin Carry tote attribution. This is one of the few Coach colors with a meaningful era anchor — most Coach color names persist across decades. Persimmon Coach bags from later decades have not been documented in the working research; flag any claimed Persimmon bag from the Classic NYC era forward as needing extra verification.

Open verification items

1. UCLA Cashin papers — ucla-cashin-papers would corroborate Persimmon as a Cashin-named or Cashin-selected Coach color. The Cashin papers at UCLA Library Special Collections (NOT LACMA) are the primary archive. Currently tentative.
2. Catalog-anchored Persimmon appearances — a 1962–1974 Coach catalog page listing Persimmon as a stock color would settle the era anchor as confirmed.
3. Per-model Persimmon catalog — beyond the Cashin Carry, which Cashin-era silhouettes were offered in Persimmon?

Sources

• yourgreatfinds-collectors-guide — primary dealer-compiled source for the Cashin Carry Persimmon attribution (Tier 3)
• vintagecoachie — collector reference (Tier 3)
• coachbagrehab-dating — leather and color context (Tier 3)