Brand name Guru: Kate Spade

Kate Brosnahan Spade (born Katherine Noel Brosnahan; December 24, 1962) is the co-founder and namesake of the designer brand, Kate Spade New York (officially rendered in lowercase as kate spade new york).

Early life and beginnings

Spade was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from St. Teresa's Academy, an all-girl Catholic high school. She attended the University of Kansas and then transferred to and graduated from Arizona State University, where she majored in journalism, worked in a motorcycle bar, and is a member of the Omega chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

In 1986, Spade worked in the accessories department of Mademoiselle in Manhattan, where she was credited in the magazine's masthead with her maiden name as Katy Brosnahan. While at Mademoiselle, she met and moved in with Andy Spade (brother of actor and comic David Spade), a native of Scottsdale, Arizona; the two were working side-by-side as salespersons in a men's clothing store, Carter's Men Shop in Phoenix, Arizona. Together, they were featured in the magazine as part of a photo story on couples and love.

She left Mademoiselle in 1991, with the title of senior fashion editor/head of accessories. While working for Mademoiselle she noticed that the market lacked stylish and sensible handbags, and decided to create her own. With this in mind, Spade browsed local flea markets, began researching different styles, fabrics, production costs, and created a line of handbags with classic shapes, colors, and fabrics.

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.

Jack Spade, a fictional name, is the men's complement to the Kate Spade brand. Its founder and principal designer was Andy Spade. In recent years, Kate Spade has been featuring designs and special editions by guest designers and is no longer the sole artistic vision of the husband and wife team.
In 1996, Kate Spade opened its first shop in New York City's SoHo

Temporary shop in New York
The brand currently has many Kate Spade boutiques around the world: 46 in the United States, 32 in Japan, 6 in Hong Kong, 4 in the Philippines, 2 in Jakarta and 1 in London. In 2004, Women's Wear Daily reported that Kate Spade had sales of $125 million. It was predicted that in fiscal 2005, sales could reach and surpass $200 million. The Neiman Marcus Group bought a majority stake in Kate Spade in 1999. It bought out the Spades in 2006 in order to sell to Liz Claiborne for $124 million in 2007.

Awards

Kate Spade has won numerous awards throughout her career. In 1996 the Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded Kate "America's New Fashion Talent in Accessories" for her classic designs. In 1998, CFDA once again honored her for "Best Accessory Designer of the Year". Kate Spade's home collection won her three design awards in 2004, including, House Beautiful's "Giants of Design Award for Tastemaker", Bon Appetit's "American Food and Entertaining Award for Designer of the Year", and Elle Decor's "Elle Decor International Design Award for Bedding".
[edit]Criticism

Kate Spade handbags have become very fashionable and are highly-desired items. In an article on fake handbag sales on Canal Street in New York City's Chinatown, the New York Times famously criticized the very simple construction and boxy shape of the original Kate Spade bags as easy targets for counterfeiters.

Kate Spade Travel Leslie Shoulder Bag

by Kate Spade New York
Buy New: $645.00
as of 2011-10-24 12:39:15

Kate Spade Burnside Avenue Allana Tote

by Kate Spade New York
Buy New: $595.00
as of 2011-10-24 12:39:15

Kate Spade Liberty Street Corinne Shoulder Bag

by Kate Spade New York
Buy New: $525.00
as of 2011-10-24 12:39:15

Kate Spade Knightsbridge Jackson Tote

by Kate Spade New York
Buy New: $525.00
as of 2011-10-24 12:39:15

Kate Spade Madeline PXRU2831 Hobo

by Kate Spade New York
Buy New: $495.00
as of 2011-10-24 12:39:15

Kate Spade Knightsbridge Large Scout Satchel

by Kate Spade New York
Buy New: $495.00
as of 2011-10-24 12:39:15

Kate Spade New York Harmony PXRU2808 Tote

by Kate Spade New York
Buy New: $495.00
as of 2011-10-24 12:39:15

Kate Spade Sasha PXRU2746 Shoulder Bag

by Kate Spade New York
Buy New: $495.00
as of 2011-10-24 12:39:15

Kate Spade Knightsbridge Helena Tote

by Kate Spade New York
Buy Used: $495.00
as of 2011-10-24 12:39:15

Kate Spade Moon Dance Madeline Satchel

by Kate Spade New York
RRP: $695.00
Buy New: $486.50
as of 2011-10-24 12:39:15
You Save: $208.50 (30%)

Popular culture

Kate Spade handbags have been featured frequently in the sitcom Just Shoot Me (whose cast included Ms. Spade's brother-in-law, David Spade) as the favored purse of the former fashion model character Nina Van Horn, played by Wendie Malick.

Kate Spade has a brief appearance in the beginning of the Just Shoot Me episode Blush Gets Some Therapy as a fashion designer who is driven off by the antics of the main characters.
Kate Spade was also recently featured in the 2011 Singapore General Election where a candidate from the incumbent People's Action Party, Tin Pei Ling, was photographed carrying a Kate Spade bag in her pre-campaign photos. This pose was later mocked by local celebrity Tay Ping Hui in the local pop culture magazine 8 Days.