Kate Spade Dies at 55

Kate Spade has been found dead in her Park Avenue apartment yesterday morning. 

The fashion designer we have all come to know and love has been pronounced dead at 10:30 am in her Park Avenue apartment. She was found by her housekeeper with a note she had left behind, which was addressed to her 13 year old daughter telling her that it wasn’t her fault. Kate Spade has left behind her daughter and a husband of 24 years.

Spade had started the business back in the 1990s. Her line, which she had created with her husband, was based off of the needs of every working woman. Starting off with 6 shapes and soon quickly escalated her company to become competitive in the global fashion industry and a threat to others in the design industry.

Kate Spade has more than 140 retail shops and outlet stores across the country and about 175 stores internationally. The small-time Kate Spade from the Midwest had never imagined a line of her own to gain so much success, which goes to show that dreams do come true. Spade had sold the company around 2007 for around $125 million to Neiman Marcus Group whom later sold it to Liz Claiborne Inc.

Up until Kate Spade’s death, she was involved in her brand, Frances Valentine, which she had started back in 2015. The brand focuses solely on shoes and handbags. The name behind the label had derived from her grandfather “Valentine” and “Frances” being the family name on her father’s side. Spade’s work has not gone unnoticed and we will remember her for more than just her beautiful work, but the person she is.

We are all fighting battles that are not known to others, so please, if you or anyone you know is in a crisis, Please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.