Early Life and Beginnings
Spade was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from St. Teresa's Academy, an all-girl Catholic high school after spending some time at Notre Dame de Sion all -girl Catholic prep school with her sister Rhetta. She attended the University of Kansas and then transferred to and graduated from Arizona State University, where she majored in journalism, worked in a motorcycle bar, and is a member of the Omega chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
In 1986, Spade worked in the accessories department of Mademoiselle in Manhattan, where she was credited in the magazine's masthead with her maiden name as Katy Brosnahan. While at Mademoiselle, she met and moved in with Andy Spade (brother of actor and comic David Spade), a native of Scottsdale, Arizona; the two were working side-by-side as salespersons in a men's clothing store, Carter's Men Shop in Phoenix, Arizona. Together, they were featured in the magazine as part of a photo story on couples and love.
She left Mademoiselle in 1991, with the title of senior fashion editor/head of accessories. While working for Mademoiselle she noticed that the market lacked stylish and sensible handbags, and decided to create her own. With this in mind, Spade browsed local flea markets, began researching different styles, fabrics, production costs, and created a line of handbags with classic shapes, colors, and fabrics.
Read more about this topic: Kate Spade
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