Kate Spade committed suicide

1 min readJun 6, 20185:52 AM

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Kate Brosnahan Spade, who created an iconic, accessible handbag line that bridged Main Street and high-end fashion, hanged herself in an apparent suicide Tuesday at her Manhattan apartment, according to New York Police Department sources.

Police responded at 10:10 a.m. after Spade was found by her housekeeper, NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said. A suicide note was found at the scene, he said. Spade addressed her daughter in the note, according to two NYPD sources. Spade’s husband also is referenced in the note, according to one of the sources.

The designer, 55, started Kate Spade New York in 1993 and opened her first shop in the city three years later, the company’s website states.

Best known for its colorful handbags, Kate Spade New York has more than 140 retail shops and outlet stores across the United States and more than 175 stores internationally, the site states.

Over time, she distanced herself from her business.

In 1999, she and her husband, Andy Spade, sold 56% of the brand to Neiman Marcus for $33.6 million. Liz Claiborne acquired the company in 2007, and Spade left her namesake brand. The luxury fashion company Coach announced plans in May 2017 to buy Kate Spade for $2.4 billion.

Kate Spade New York issued a statement confirming the “incredibly sad news” of their eponymous founder’s death.

“Although Kate has not been affiliated with the brand for more than a decade, she and her husband and creative partner, Andy, were the founders of our beloved brand,” the statement said. “Kate will be dearly missed. Our thoughts are with Andy and the entire Spade family at this time.”

“We honor all the beauty she brought into this world,” the company said in a tweet.

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What this means

The tragic news of Kate Spade's suicide presents a significant challenge for the brand, now under Coach's ownership since 2017. While Spade had not been involved for over a decade, her name remains synonymous with the accessible luxury handbag line. This event could prompt a re-evaluation of marketing strategies and brand messaging, particularly given the brand's extensive international presence. Unlike Lululemon's recent store renovations or Panpuri's planned expansion, this is not a proactive retail move but a crisis management scenario. The immediate risk lies in negative publicity overshadowing product appeal or consumer perception shift. Watch for any official communication from Coach regarding brand continuity or commemorative initiatives over the next quarter.

Sarah Chen · Retail News Asia newsroom

Questions & Answers

When was Kate Spade last involved with the company she founded?

Kate Spade left her namesake brand in 2007. This was after Liz Claiborne acquired the company. The article states she had not been affiliated with the brand for more than a decade at the time of her death.

What did the company Kate Spade New York say about her death?

The company issued a statement confirming the 'incredibly sad news' of their founder's death. They noted her lack of affiliation for over a decade but acknowledged her and her husband as the founders, sending thoughts to her family.

Who found Kate Spade at her Manhattan apartment?

Kate Spade was found by her housekeeper at 10:10 a.m. On Tuesday. Police responded after this discovery, according to information from NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea.

Which companies have owned the Kate Spade brand since its inception?

Kate Spade and her husband sold a majority stake to Neiman Marcus in 1999. Liz Claiborne acquired the company in 2007, and Coach announced plans to buy Kate Spade in May 2017.

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