Kate Spade: Fashion Icon's Tragic Death in 2018
The fashion designer's suicide on Manhattan's Upper East Side sparked renewed conversations about mental health and depression among high-achieving women
Kate Spade, the fashion designer who revolutionized the accessories industry, was found dead in her Park Avenue apartment on June 5, 2018. She was 55 years old.
The discovery was made by Spade's housekeeper at her home on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Her husband, Andy Spade, was present in the apartment at the time. The couple's daughter, Frances Beatrix Spade, then 13, was at school. The New York City Medical Examiner's office later confirmed her death as suicide.
## A Fashion Legacy
Kate Spade's real name was Katherine Noel Brosnahan. In 1993, she co-founded the Kate Spade company alongside her husband Andy, transforming the handbag and accessories market with innovative designs and bold aesthetics. Her work earned her CFDA "Best Accessory Designer of the Year" awards in 1996 and 1998.
The business achieved remarkable financial success. In 1999, the company sold 56 percent of its stake to Neiman Marcus for $33.6 million. By 2006, the brand was acquired by Liz Claiborne Inc. for $125 million. Spade stepped away from the company in 2007, but remained involved in the design world. In 2016, she founded Frances Valentine, a new brand she named after her daughter.
## The Hidden Struggle
Behind Spade's professional achievements and public persona lay significant mental health challenges. Following her death, her sister revealed that Kate had struggled with what she believed to be bipolar disorder. The sister disclosed that she had attempted multiple times to encourage Kate to seek professional help, highlighting the difficulty of supporting loved ones battling invisible illnesses.
Spade's death occurred at a time when mental health awareness was beginning to gain traction in public discourse, yet stigma and barriers to treatment remained substantial. Her passing became part of a larger conversation about depression, anxiety, and suicide among successful, high-profile individuals—a reminder that achievement and financial success do not protect against serious mental illness.
