HISTORY OF MODERN CLASSICS KATE SPADE
HISTORY OF MODERN CLASSICS
KATE SPADE
COMELY HANDBAG FACTORY
In 1996 a new name appeared in handbag design that was neither affiliated to a traditional luxury leather goods house nor concerned with revitalizing a tired brand.
The bag of the year was a simple, square satin-finished nylon shopper with an understated logo by the American designer Kate Spade.
Born Kate Brosnahan of Kansas City. Missouri, the designer initially worked as an accessories editor on Mademoiselle from 1986 to 1991.
Her experience on the magazine led Spade to spot a niche in the market for elegant handbags in bright color that were not over designed; bags that represented the personality of the owner rather than the designer.
She invented a tote for her own use when on holiday in Provincetown in 1993 and together with her husband, Andy Spade, subsequently developed a line of six shoppers.
Her first “it” bag went on to win an accessories award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 1996. The company now also produces shoes, stationary and home furnishings.