Kate Spade

Kate Spade sets out to design a fuctional handbag with style

Nov 4, 1993

Former accessories manager, Kate Spade, envisioned a colorful handbag with a twist, and immedietly set out to design the first Kate Spade hand bag.

Kate and her husband invest 35,000 dollars to the start of the company

Sep 6, 1994

The first Kate Spade store opened in NYC, targeting women in business

Mar 7, 1996

Spade opened its first 400 square-foot boutique in Manhattan.

Kate and partners sold the brand to Neiman Marcus for $33.6 million to acquire a 56 percent interest

Feb 16, 1999

Kate Spade licensed raincaots in an effort to expand the target market

Nov 5, 1999

Kate Spade and her partners looked at expanding their products past handbags for the first time.

Spade and partners signed a licensing deal for more upscale eyewear, frames, and sunglasses.

Apr 20, 2000

The success of the eyewear cause an expanded market for Kate Spade and company.

The company opens its fifth store

Nov 4, 2000

Locations include New York, Boston, and Beverly Hills, with Kate Spade Paper and Jack Spade stores in Manhattan

Kate Spade signed a distribution deal with a Hong Kong company to build 15 stores in the Asian market

Sep 4, 2003

The Asian Kate Spade line was a twist off the American line, adding Asain culture with different materials.

Kate Spade goes global

Oct 3, 2004

Opening of first store in Tokyo

Liz Claiborne Inc. (now called Fifth & Pacific Inc.) bought the company

Aug 20, 2006