Celebrating Kate Spade

On 5th June, the fashion world was struck with devastating news. Celebrated designer and adored quirky girl Kate Spade had tragically taken her own life. Kate and her husband Andy launched their designer brand back in 1993. Although the couple had not been affiliated with the brand for quite some time before Kate’s untimely passing, the ground-breaking work and sense of wonder that Kate created during her time heading up the company is a gift that truly must be celebrated.

The Bags

In the 90s, it was near on impossible to walk more than a couple of blocks in Manhattan without seeing one of Kate’s beautifully bright, signature handbags displayed proudly on somebody’s arm. In a world full of fussy prints, redundant pockets and over-complicated straps, Kate had created a sleek, modern accessory that was full of joy and life. This was to be the start of the world’s love affair with Kate’s creations. It began with those iconic bags and quickly expanded to many other accessories and eventually became one of the most respected, sought after labels of our time.

The Talent

The majority of people will remember Kate Spade for her design achievements and her contribution to the American fashion industry, and rightly so. Many credit the brand with changing fashion in a way no other had managed to before or has since. Not only was it one of the first to make luxury fashion accessible and affordable, its overall gleeful nature extended from inside the stores right to the clothes themselves. Each piece is filled with elements of joy and uniqueness, characteristics derived directly from Kate’s unparalleled ability to celebrate individuality through design. These clothes were made for women by women and it was that unique talent that made the Kate Spade New York so popular with women over the world. It’s just another one of the many, many reasons why her work will be continually celebrated for decades to come.

The Legacy

Kate Spade leaves behind an empire built from a dream shared by herself and her husband 25 years ago. What they built was a thing of true beauty, a fashion line that allowed women to have fun, celebrate their own creativity and not to take themselves too seriously. In a world that seems increasingly geared towards projecting the image of perfection, that’s really something we could all do with a little more of. It is a gift that we can be forever grateful for.

Sophie Cook