Remembering Kate Spade: Celebrities, Fans, and Friends React to Designer's Death
Fashion designer Kate Spade passed away Tuesday at the age of 55. A New York City Police Department spokesman confirmed to Glamour.com that a housekeeper discovered Spade, who was “unconscious” and “unresponsive,” in her Park Avenue apartment at around 10:20 a.m. Multiple news outlets are reporting Spade left a note, though no details are available at this time.
Spade was a ubiquitous force in the fashion industry, both through her self-titled brand (which she and husband Andy Spade co-founded in 1993, and then sold in 2007) which had a global influence thanks to its bags, as well as through Frances Valentine (the accessories label she debuted in 2016). In 2017, Kate Spade the company sold to Coach for an estimated $2.4 billion.
Celebrities, fashion industry insiders, and friends of the Spade family have taken to social media to express their condolences and remember the designer’s legacy; many tributes mention mental health, as it’s reported that Spade died by suicide, and include phone numbers people can call if they need help. If you’re dealing with depression or suicidal thoughts, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
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