Kate Spade Founders Talk New Accessories Brand

Here’s something you might not know: In 1993, when Kate Valentine and Andy Spade founded the quirky fashion company, they weren’t yet married and Kate went by her maiden name, Brosnahan. The idea was to combine Kate’s first name and Andy’s last — much to Kate’s mother’s dismay. Years later, when they launched the men’s line Jack Spade, it was Andy’s turn for years of mistaken identity. Kate Spade New York no longer belongs to Kate and Andy, but it's still very much in the consumer’s line of sight, having been bought from Neiman Marcus Group for $124 million in 2006 by Liz Claiborne, Inc.