About Kate spade
Kate Spade was founded in 1993 by Kate Brosnahan Spade along with her husband Andy Spade. Based in New York City, the brand got its start by designing sleek, utilitarian handbags that stood out for their versatile, minimalist shape in a market dominated by loud logos.
The first Kate Spade handbag design was a simple boxy tote called the Sam, crafted of durable nylon with custom-made printed fabric lining. Its pared down, functional style contrasted with the ostentatious status bags popular in the 1990s.
Kate Spade's founding philosophy centered around creating bags that reflected the founder's own outgoing, playful personality. The aesthetic combines classic American styles with bold, bright colors and whimsical novelty prints inspired by Spade's travels and life in New York.
Over the years, Kate Spade has expanded its handbags into full lifestyle collections spanning ready-to-wear, shoes, jewelry, childrenswear and home décor. But it continues to innovate on its signature spirited, feminine style through novel shapes, materials like lucite and pops of color.
The brand's most iconic design remains the Sam bag, but other beloved styles include the rectangular Stevie and the top-handled Cedar Street. Novelty bags with quirky shapes like pandas or cars also capture the Kate Spade spirit.
In 1999, Kate Spade was acquired by Liz Claiborne Inc, facilitating its growth while retaining the Spade DNA. It has also partnered with other brands like Gap Kids on limited-edition collections pairing its bright prints with laidback staples.