Why Black Men Love the Coach Empire 40 Bag
Black women have been on the Coach bag wave for decades, but now Black men are riding that same wave with the giant, beautiful Empire 40 bag sweeping social media as the accessory for everyone. For fashion insiders, the Empire comes across as the sturdier, bigger brother to The Row’s Margaux. But for the men who love it, The Empire is the ultimate unisex bag: structured, strong, and built like a vintage doctor’s bag or classic bowling carryall.
It easily holds all your daily essentials, functions seamlessly as a carry-on or overnight bag, and the larger it is, the better it looks. Crafted from high-grade leather that only gets better with age—and priced at about a quarter of The Row—it’s an easy win for anyone. Here’s how different Black men have styled their totes and why it has become a crowd favorite for everybody.
It’s Big, Tough and Perfect For The Chains
TikToker Jedyn Ali (@Jedynali) showed off his Empire to his followers, saying it is his new obsession.
“I now have a crazy ass obsession with this bag,” he joked. “I feel like it’s a him. At first I thought it was a her, but it’s definitely a him. It’s definitely a himothy.”
As he modeled the bag under his arm, Ali showed off custom accessories he added to make it unique, including a leather alligator coin holder, brass and gold chains, and a custom Coach tag embossed with his name and zodiac sign.
Related: Street Style: What Black People Are Wearing at Paris Fashion Week
Coach Knew Men Love Some Olive Green
Travel and lifestyle blogger Robert E. Blackmon posted about his Empire in a rich olive green shade. Unable to hold back his excitement during the unboxing, Blackmon let out a scream before exclaiming, “I love it!”
Like Ali, Blackmon decorated his bag with charms to personalize his look. In the comments, followers were just as enamored with the bag as Blackmon was.
“Yessss, I love it. I ordered the Empire 40 brown in glove leather. I can’t wait, but your color is gorgeous,” wrote one user.
“Oh, it is just perfect…wear it in good health, happiness, and much success,” added another.
Jalen Hurts Rocked That Black Empire 40
Jalen Hurts is one Black male star spotted taking his Empire into the locker room with him before Super Bowl LIX last year. If this doesn’t convince you that the Empire 40 is the perfect tote for all, we don’t know what will!
Perfect Sized Travel Bag
@mitezvick What’s in my model/travel bag?
@Coach empire carryall bag 48 in Merlot #fyp #coach #whatsinmybag #travel #model
Model Mitez (@mitezvick) has been using the Empire as his travel bag when he’s flying out for various modeling gigs. In a TikTok video, he showed his followers just how great the bag is for carrying everything you might need on a plane, from everyday essentials like a wallet, glasses, and headphones to small treats like tea bags, a speaker, and a Nintendo Switch.
“This is really like my Mary Poppins bag,” he said. “I make that joke to my siblings every time because this bag is huge and fits everything.”
A Great Work Bag
@itstemithesage Unboxing the @Coach empire bag I got @waletheceo to stunt in the office. I might borrow it for myself though
. The Coach bag quality is unmatched! #coachbags #coachunboxing #giftsforhim #valentinesdaygiftsforhim
Popular content creator Temi Ola bought the Empire as a surprise gift for her husband, who was thrilled with his new work tote.
“You can tell this is quality,” he said. “Yo, I can’t wait to go to the office tomorrow and get everybody’s reaction.” After confirming his laptop fit comfortably inside, he declared, “Business is now in session!”
An Honest Review
In an honest review on his TikTok page, fashion influencer Jaleel Chambers told his followers that the bag is definitely worth the money and hype.
“This bag is a 10 out of 10, and I’ve tried on really expensive bags like Ferragamo, Prada, YSL, and I still love this bag more than those that were sometimes 10x the price,” he said.
Spacious and Stylish
Influencer O’Neal Thomas unboxed the bag with his followers, stating that he bought it specifically as a work-and-travel bag because not only is the Empire stylish, but it is also spacious, making it the perfect choice for everyday use. We’re loving the charms that Thomas added to his Empire bag.
Works With Street Style
Just because a lot of guys wear the bag for work or travel doesn’t mean it can’t also be used in more casual settings. For example, the Empire still looks amazing in a more street-style fit, especially when carried under the arm rather than on your shoulder.
Looks Amazing After Years Of Use
@griztriz The empire carry all 40 was my first coach bag. It’s held up solidly over the past 2 years and has definitely served it’s purpose, However I feel like us bag collectors are always discussing what the bag of the day is and never how we upkeep our bags after a long day out in the sun. Today I noticed the leather on my empire was a little dull so we had a in depth cleaning session to bring her back to life. I absolutely love this process. It’s meditative and rewarding if you’re looking to disconnect from a long work day.
#coachny #empirecarryall #empire40 #leathercleaning #coachbag
If you’re still on the fence about spending your hard-earned money on the Empire, let content creator @griztriz show you just how well the bag holds up. In the caption of his TikTok video, Griz Triz states that he’s been using his tote for two years and that it’s still in impeccable condition, thanks to the care he gives it. Now that’s luxury!
Incredible Dupe Options
We do not encourage dupes, but there are lookalikes. TikToker @ccraftyrichie showed his followers the $99 lookalike he got on Amazon.
Effortlessly Cool
The best thing about the Empire bag, besides how spacious and versatile it is, is that it makes every outfit look effortlessly cool. Whether you’re going for a quick coffee run or headed into an important business meeting, this bag will have folks turning heads and adding it to their wish lists.
Don’t Be Afraid To Rock The Tote
While some men on social media have faced criticism for showing off their luxury bags, fashion TikToker Coudjo had a message for anyone trying to troll men who are having fun with style.
“It’s a you problem if you think an object determines your sexuality,” he said. “That’s a you problem. Think about that for a second before you comment on someone elses post about a bag that they have.”
Fellas in the comments agreed with Coudjo’s message, sharing that they wear their bags with pride.
“Idc if it’s considered a purse or not. If I like it, Imma get it. I have the Brandon Blackwood slim clutch and the Telfar circle bag because I wanted them, and Imma use it whenever I want,” commented one user.
“I love my bag!! Compliments every time I pull it out,” wrote another.
For guys eyeing the Coach Empire 40, the bag retails for $750 and could easily become your go-to accessory this fall.
