Kate
Brosnahan Spade was the co-founder and label of the designer brand Kate Spade
New York. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri and graduated from
Arizona State University. In 1986, while working in the accessories
department of Mademoiselle in Manhattan, she moved in with her college
sweetheart, Andy Spade, brother of actor and comic David Spade. After working in Mademoiselle for five years, she
realized that the market lacked classy and chic handbags and therefore decided
to design her own. Her company “kate spade handbags” was launched in
January 1993, and later added many additional items including stationary,
organizers, shoes, perfume, clothing, luggage and eyewear. Her first shop
opened in 1996 in SoHo. In 1999, Kate sold the business to the Neiman
Marcus Group, but she and Andy still remained very involved in the brand. In
2004, “kate spade at home” launched and comprised of bedding, bath items,
china, wallpaper and additional home accessories, and Kate shared her personal
style and philosophies in her three books, Manners, Occasions, and Style.
Neiman Marcus eventually sold the business to Liz Claiborne. Kate and
Andy had their first child, Frances Beatrix Spade in 2005, and the following
year they invested in Plum TV, a small television network that broadcasts in
the elite vacation spots like the Hamptons, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
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| Kate Spade |
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| Kate Spade New York |
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| Books by Kate Spade |
