Family-owned French maison; the Le Pliage that built an empire.
Longchamp is the rarest thing in French luxury — a 77-year-old family-owned house that built its modern business on a single, foldable, nylon-and-leather tote.
Founded in 1948 by Jean Cassegrain as a leather pipe-covering business in Paris, the maison was transformed by his son Philippe in 1971 and again by his grandson Olivier in the 1990s. The Le Pliage (1993) — a nylon tote that folded into a small square — has now sold over 35 million units.
Founded 1948.
Jean Cassegrain inherited his father's tobacco shop in Paris. The shop sold pipes, including British briar pipes. Cassegrain noticed that the pipe stems were vulnerable to scratching in a customer's pocket and began selling leather pipe covers. Within a year the leather covers were outselling the pipes. He founded Longchamp (named for the Paris racecourse) as a small leather-goods house.
Philippe Cassegrain (Jean's son) had taken over by the 1980s. The idea for the Le Pliage came from origami — a nylon body with leather handles and a leather flap closure, foldable into a small square the size of a paperback. It launched in 1993 in three sizes and a small range of colours. Within five years it was a global staple, especially in the United States, where it became the de facto uniform of college students.
Sophie Delafontaine (Philippe's daughter, third-generation) took over as artistic director in 2006. Her tenure has expanded the brand into more premium product — the Roseau (2010), the Cavalcade (2018), the leather Brioche bag — and into designer collaborations (Jeremy Scott, Tracey Emin) without dethroning the Le Pliage, which remains the maison's defining piece.
1 era of creative direction.
Third-generation Cassegrain. Sophie has overseen the brand's quiet expansion beyond the Le Pliage — Roseau, Cavalcade, the Brioche — while maintaining its family-owned, design-led identity.
10 icons. Each one a scene; each scene a gallery.
The defining Longchamp. Foldable nylon tote with leather handles and flap. Over 35 million units sold.
Modern Le Pliage in technical canvas; doesn't fold but more durable.
Top-handle with bamboo Roseau clasp.
Saddle bag with cavalry-inspired details.
Soft puffy bag inspired by the French pastry.
Pebbled-leather tote line.
Structured box bag with letter-slot opening.
Round shoulder bag with celestial hardware.
Geometric panelled tote.
Leather city tote.