Kate Spade

KATE SPADE

HISTORY
it all started back in 1993, when kate brosnahan spade, a former accessories editor at mademoiselle, set out to design the perfect handbag. debuting with just six silhouettes, she combined sleek, utilitarian shapes and colorful palettes in an entirely new way. and so kate spade new york was born. 
women and fashion editors fell for the fresh, modern sensibility, and our first shop in new york city swiftly opened in 1996. as the company grew, our graphic approach and trademark wit created a visual shorthand for a brand recognizable the world over.
in 2007, spade turned the reins to design powerhouse fifth and pacific companies, inc. (formerly known as liz claiborne, inc.). shortly after, deborah lloyd took the helm as president and chief creative officer with an aim to broaden the line while honoring our rich history. along with ceo craig leavitt, she quickly launched clothing and jewelry collections, quickly followed by the introduction of bedding, legwear and fragrance.
today we’ve grown into a global lifestyle brand, and aim to inspire colorful living through our handbags and clothing to jewelry, shoes, stationery, eyewear, baby, fragrance, tabletop, bedding and gifts.
all the while, we’ve never lost sight of who we are: our spirited approach, commitment to curiosity and passion for sharing our colorful world still shapes all that is kate spade new york. 
live colorfully


career

Kate Spade and Joel Franklin launched their New York-based design company "kate spade handbags" in January 1993. As the name implies, they initially started out selling mainly handbags, but eventually extended to include stationery, personal organizers, address books, shoes, beauty products, perfume, raincoats, pajamas, and eyewear. In 2004, "kate spade at home" was launched as a home collection brand. It features bedding, bath items, china, and various items for the home and wallpaper.

In 1996, Spade's company opened its first shop in New York City's SoHo.