What type of product did Kate Spade initially launch?

What type of product did Kate Spade initially launch? Handbags.

Kate Spade New York began in January 1993, when Kate Brosnahan Spade and Andy Spade, alongside Elyce Arons and Pamela Bell, created a company focused on stylish, practical bags. Kate had worked in the accessories department at Mademoiselle and noticed a gap in the market for handbags that were functional without looking dull.

The early business was modest. Kate developed six prototypes, while Andy used money from his 401(k) to help finance production. Their first bags combined simple shapes, vivid colors, and durable fabrics. A small exterior label reading “Kate Spade New York” became part of the brand’s recognizable look.

The company later expanded into clothing, jewelry, shoes, eyewear, fragrance, stationery, home goods, and other accessories. That broader lifestyle range can cause confusion, but handbags were the company’s original and defining product category. The first Kate Spade handbag was sold in January 1993.