Renowned Fashion Designer Kate Spade Has Died
Spade's body was found by her housekeeper in her New York City apartment.
By Katrina Khairul Azman — 06 Jun 2018, 10:57 AM
Yesterday, 5 June, fashion mogul Kate Spade was found dead from an apparent suicide by hanging in her New York City apartment
According to Channel NewsAsia, her body was found by her housekeeper in her Park Avenue home.
Her husband Andy Spade was in the couple's apartment at the time, while their 13-year-old daughter was at school, CBC News reported.
The New York City chief medical examiner's office has since said the cause of the designer's death was under investigation. However, the presence of a note from Spade pointed to suicide.
Kate Spade New York released a statement shortly after the news broke out, calling the news "incredibly sad"
"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 read.
Born Katherine Noel Brosnahan, the 55-year-old became a household name after co-founding Kate Spade Handbags with husband Andy Spade in 1993
According to CBC News, the designer started the company based on six shapes of bags that she thought every working woman needed.
"I grew up in the Midwest, where you have to have it [a fashion item] because you like it, not because you're supposed to have it," she said.
Since opening its first store in New York in 1996, the brand now has more than 300 branches worldwide, BBC reported.
In Kuala Lumpur alone, Kate Spade stores can be found in Suria KLCC, on Jalan Bukit Bintang, on Jalan P Ramlee, and on Persiaran Gurney.
The handbag brand quickly became a fashion empire including shoes, luggage, and other accessories known for their colourful and quirky designs
In 1999, Kate and Andy Spade sold half of the company to the Neiman Marcus Group. The couple let go of their remaining interest to the group in 2006.
Last year, Coach, now known as Tapestry, bough the Kate Spade brand for USD2.4 billion, CBC News reported.
Neva Hall, executive vice-president at Neiman Marcus Stores, released a statement saying that, "Her creative light and bright mind will be greatly missed."