Seven years ago this week, the fashion world was stunned by the death of designer Kate Spade.
Spade died by suicide on June 5, 2018, in her apartment in New York City.
The fashion designer, best known for her eponymous line of colorful handbags and whimsical clothing and accessories, was 55 years old at the time of her death and the mother of a teenage daughter she shared with her husband and business partner Andy Spade.
In an interview with The New York Times following Kate Spade's death, Andy Spade said that perhaps no one was more shocked by the death of his wife, from whom he was unofficially separated at the time, than those who knew her best.
"We were in touch with her the night before and she sounded happy. There was no indication and no warning that she would do this," he told the newspaper. "It was a complete shock. And it clearly wasn't her. There were personal demons she was battling."
Andy Spade also said at the time that although his partner of 35 years suffered from depression and anxiety, she'd been seeing a doctor regularly and was taking medication to combat the conditions. Contrary to reports, he added, there were no substance abuse issues, nor were there any business problems.
Kate Spade started the Kate Spade New York line with her husband in 1993, and she eventually sold all her shares in the company in 2006. She launched a new line in 2016 called Frances Valentine.
Kate Spade's death was 'a complete shock,' her husband saysHer partner in both business ventures was also her best friend, Elyce Arons, whom she met as a freshman at the University of Kansas in 1981.
Arons shares new memories of Kate Spade in her upcoming memoir, "We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship with Kate Spade," to be released June 17.
In an excerpt from the memoir shared with People earlier this week, Arons recalls how Kate Spade was hesitant to have her name on the Kate Spade New York fashion line.
Kate Spade's idea for a handbag line, according to Arons, came from not being able to find the right handbag for a fashion shoot while working at the publication Mademoiselle in the mid-1980s.
"It was time to name the baby. Andy's idea was to combine Katy's first name with his last name -- Katy became 'Kate' because Andy liked the rhythm of two one-syllable words together," Arons writes in her book. "Katy liked it a lot, too, but her shyness made her cautious. 'Don't expect me to be Kate Spade!' she said when we first agreed on the name, and many times after that."
Kate Spade 'sounded happy' before her suicide: How depression can be so hidden and what loved ones can doThe handbag line became a huge success and later grew to include clothing, accessories and fragrance.
When Kate Spade New York was sold in 2006, Arons said its founders celebrated with a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where she said she and her best friend talked about the future.
"On our last night in Cabo, Katy and I stole away for a sunset cocktail by the beach. We both ordered margaritas," Arons writes in her memoir. "'So what's next?' I asked. Katy replied, 'Whatever it is, we'll do it together.'"
Later in the book, Arons writes what it has been like to live with the grief of losing her friend to suicide.
"All of us who loved her have had to find a way to make peace with her incomprehensible choice. It's not been easy. I've learned to never take the people whom I care about for granted," she writes. "As I tell my closest friends: Go to your sister or your best girlfriend who's just like a sister to you. Go to her today and hug her so hard that it's like you won't ever let her go."
If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises please call or text 988. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org or dial the current toll free number 800-273-8255 [TALK].
