Since its inception in 1993, Kate Spade New York has maintained its reputation as one of the world’s most iconic fashion brands.
Best known and beloved for chic handbags, the label was founded by designer Kate Spade’s desire to create minimal and practical bags and purses for the modern woman.
Lindsay Ellingson and guests attend the Kate Spade S/S 20 Fashion Show at Elizabeth Street Gardens on September 7, 2019, in New York City
Oct 03, 2013 The majority of Kate Spade sunglasses and optical frames come in a hard case. On the inside case you should see a pair of fancy eyes along with a cleaning cloth. On the outside arms is written.
- Kate Spade New York is manufactured all over the world so knowing which bag and style was actually made, is key to authenticating her bags. The font is always the sape and those older knockoff bags get it wrong every time. The below guides will teach you what to look for when trying to authenticate Kate Spade handbags and accessories.
- Always take not that Kate Spade does not have metal brand tags. The only brand tag that in metal is from the palm beach collection way back 2001; See attached Photo: This Kate Spade brand tag is from my Kate Spade Wallet. Closely look how the letter have spaces. Both brand tags are Authentic. Always check the S and the P, S should not be close.
Kate Spade handbags have been frequently worn by celebrities and the fashion elite, including big names such as Taylor Swift and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Following the increase in popularity of Kate Spade purses, counterfeits and fakes quickly proliferated the market, seen everywhere from Manhattan’s infamous Canal Street to numerous online sellers.
In February 2019, KXLY-TV reported that a driver was caught attempting to cross the border from the United States to Canada with an estimated $32,000 worth of counterfeit merchandise, which included handbags from luxury brands such as Kate Spade, Gucci, Michael Kors, and Chanel.
Upon being questioned about his intentions, the driver admitted that he had planned to sell the fake purses in Canada.
Due to counterfeit bags becoming harder and harder to tell apart from authentic designs, make sure to do thorough research beforehand if you decide to purchase from a secondhand store or a third-party seller.
Where to buy Kate Spade bags
With plenty of options ranging from classic styles to vibrant designs, there’s definitely a Kate Spade bag to suit every lifestyle and personality.
If you’ve been wanting to own your very Kate Spade bag or add another piece to your collection, the retailers listed below are some of the most popular online stores for Kate Spade bags:
1. Kate Spade New York
2. Saks Fifth Avenue
3. Nordstrom Rack (Discounted Bags)
4. Nordstrom
5. Amazon
In order to avoid the unfortunate instance of discovering that your Kate Spade handbag is a counterfeit or a knock off, here are several ways to ensure that you’re able to get your hands on an authentic Kate Spade bag.
1. Purchase from reputable sellers
The main way to avoid being scammed into buying a counterfeit bag is to purchase from renowned and highly regarded sellers.
Kate Spade’s official website is a great start to browse through an extensive assortment of bag styles and designs, while department store giants like Saks Fifth Avenue provide a more curated range of Kate Spade bags. The same goes for online retailers such as Shopbop.
2. When it doubt, look at the label
Kate Spade handbags have two main types of labels: an embossed or stamped label and a fabric label. The embossed or stamped label appears mostly on leather handbags and can be found at the front side of the bag, usually located under the handle or at the top center area.
On the other hand, Kate Spade’s fabric label is directly stitched on the handbag. An easy way to tell apart a counterfeit version is to gently pull at the sides of the fabric label to see if it comes off or the sides peel away.
Authentic Kate Spade label on limited edition handbag made by a group of local artisans in Masoro, Rwanda
Most fakes feature fabric labels that have been glued on or sewn on an original Kate Spade fabric label.
Leather bags will never have fabric labels on them, only stamped or embossed ones that are usually in gold-tone letters, while most nylon bags usually have the logo embossed on rectangular-shaped patches found at the front of the bag.
2. Check the font and lettering on the label
The authentic Kate Spade font should always appear in lowercase letters, with even spacing throughout. There is only one style of font for all Kate Spade handbags, so this can be one of the quickest ways to tell whether the piece if a counterfeit one.
Kate Spade’s logo features the iconic spade and a combination of lowercase and uppercase serif nicely spaced
Please note that since 2000, all handbag labels should have the words ‘New York’ below ‘Kate Spade’ in uppercase letters. The ‘T’ in ‘Kate Spade’ should always align with the ‘N’ in New York, and the ‘K’ in New York should always be paralleled with the ‘A’ in ‘Spade.’
In the instances that a bag is part of a special collection, the collection’s name will be found below ‘Kate Spade’ instead.
3. Look at the hardware of the bag
Kate Spade Serial Number Check Chart
Most Kate Spade handbags don’t feature any feet at the bottom. For bag styles that do come with feet, they are often small and usually circular or flat and can be located at the four corners of the base.
Luxurious hardware on Kate Spade New York’s Cameron Convertible crossbody bag
Always remember that the shape of the feet should not be triangular or cone-like. The rest of the bag’s hardware should either be in gold or silver tones and should never tarnish or rust.
4. Materials and stitching
While different materials are used for Kate Spade handbags, the most popular types include leather, nylon, canvas, and suede. Upon inspection, you should be able to tell whether the material is on par with Kate Spade’s reputation for high-quality products.
Perfect stitching on a genuine Kate Spade satchel handbag
The same goes for the handbag’s stitching quality, which should be even and should not snag or become loose over time. The stitching is also usually the same color as the handbag, though this is dependent on the bag style.
5. Note the tags that come with the bag
Brand new and authentic Kate Spade handbags have green retail tags with ‘Kate Spade New York’ on it. The retail card should state the name of the bag style, with the style number in small letters and a barcode.
Care cards should also be included with every Kate Spade bag, with instructions on how to properly care for the item. Another important tag is the Country of Origin tag, which can usually be found in the bag’s interior seam pocket.
All Kate Spade bags made after 1996 should have a Country of Origin tag. Kate Spade bags have only been produced in the following counties: USA, Italy, China, Taiwan, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Vietnam, Rwanda, Philippines.
6. If you’re still unsure, check the Kate Spade website
If you’re still hesitant about the bag in question, a great idea is to check out the official Kate Spade website and compare the bags there to your bag’s features.
Kate Spade’s website also has information about how to authenticate your bag, including a dedicated page to report counterfeit items.
Kate Spade Questions and Answers
How did Kate Spade die?
On June 5, 2018, Kate Spade was found dead in her apartment by her housekeeper. Her death was ruled a suicide by hanging and she had left a note addressed to her daughter, Frances Beatrix Spade.
According to unconfirmed sources, Katherine Noel Valentine Brosnahan (known professionally as Kate Spade) hung herself with a scarf tied to a doorknob.
Kate Spade Handbags Green
New York City’s chief medical examiner ruled fashion designer Kate Spade’s death a suicide by hanging
Why did Kate Spade commit suicide?
Andy Spade, who co-founded the fashion brand Kate Spade New York with his wife, released a statement indicating that her suicide was caused by a combination of depression and anxiety.
“Kate suffered from depression and anxiety for many years. She was actively seeking help and working closely with doctors to treat her disorder. … There was no indication and no warning that she would do this. It was a complete shock. And it clearly wasn’t her. There were personal demons she was battling.”
Prior to her death, the couple had been living separately for 10 months.
“Our daughter was our priority,” he said. “We were not legally separated, and never even discussed divorce. We were best friends trying to work through our problems in the best way we knew how.
Andy Spade with his wife Kate Spade at the RxArt Ball on October 25, 2007, in New York City
“We were together for 35 years. We loved each other very much and simply needed a break.”
“This is the truth,” he added. “Anything else that is out there right now is false.”
Andy Spade, who has a net worth of $200 million, emphasized that his wife had not been abusing alcohol or drugs.
“I have yet to see any note left behind and am appalled that a private message to my daughter has been so heartlessly shared with the media,” he said.
“My main concern is Bea and protecting her privacy as she deals with the unimaginable grief of losing her mother. Kate loved Bea so very much.”
Who owns Kate Spade?
According to Forbes, Kate Spade was acquired by Coach in 2017 for $2.4 billion. However, the original founders Kate and Andy Spade did not get anything from the sale. They sold a 56% stake of the company to Neiman Marcus in 1999 for $34 million.
In 2006, Neiman Marcus Group acquired the remaining 44% stake for $59.4 million. According to CNN, Kate and Andy Spade left the company in 2007.
Nov. 30, 2013 - PRLog -- Today I will teach you 16 Useful Tips about How to Tell Original Kate Spade Bags. You wouldn't think anyone would bother to make fake Kate Spade bags because the originals are relatively inexpensive (except http://www.6pm.com, http://www.nordstrom.com, and http://www.katespadestores.com/ discount Kate Spade bags store ) - at least compared to other high-fashion bags such as Prada, LV, etc. But as you know, people will do anything to make a quick buck. Fake Kate Spade bags are a little difficult to spot, but here are some tips based on my personal experiences and observations:Please note: I am not affiliated with 6pm.com, nordstrom.com and katespadestores.com - I just love their products and hate to see people get taken advantage of...
Photos: Also please note that the photos you see to the right are not my photos - they are listings from 6pm, nordstrom, katespadestores - so they may be authentic. I have no control over what listings appear there - 6pm, nordstrom, katespadestores choose them based on the content of this guide - i.e. regarding Kate Spade bags and wallets.
1. Signature fabric: The 'C' pattern will be crooked. Except for some newer patterns, like the 'optic' or my new favorite 'scarf print,' the tip of the horizontal 'C' facing the other 'C' should touch. Also, the pattern should line up and start in the center of the front panel of the bag (same with the back panel). The center seam should go straight down through the middle of the CC's, and the pattern should be aligned horizontally and vertically. Also, the pattern should line up on any front or back pockets, so that it looks like there is no break in the pattern. (Note: Sometimes the pattern does not line up on side seams as this is nearly impossible to do.) The best way to tell is to go to the Kate Spade website and look at the real thing, and then compare it to what you're looking at on eBay and see if the pattern is different.
2. Sometimes the 'CC' will actually be a 'GG' - how much more obvious can you get! And no, this does not mean it's a Gucci! (I'm not as familiar with Gucci products, but if someone is selling you a 'Kate Spade' bag which is imprinted with the letter 'G' then logically it must be fake.)
3. The stitching or general construction of the bag looks sloppy - this is a sure sign because Kate Spade does not make sloppy products! Each stitch should be the same length as every other stitch, it should be in a straight line, and there should be no 'over-stitching'.
4. The bag does not look like any other bag you've ever seen - if it looks 'sort of' like a bag you've seen but something is 'off' - be careful!
5. Replicas: The seller is listing an unusually large number of the same exact bag. This is a red flag because there are websites where you can purchase good-quality replicas, and I have seen these replicas listed on eBay claiming to be authentic. Note that replicas are usually made of fabric, as leather is more expensive and therefore all-leather bags are less likely to be fake. (However, I have seen fake Kate Spade bags made of all-leather. The all-leather fakes are usually very easy to spot - i.e. the quality of the leather is VERY poor, the fixtures are all wrong, etc.)
6. Photos: Beware of blurry photos or stock photos (a stock photo is one that has been cut-and-pasted from the Kate Spade website, usually with a white background) - this does not necessarily mean the bag is fake, but if you see either of these types of photos, I would contact the seller and ask if they can send you a photo of the actual item they're selling.
7. Authenticity: Take note if there is absolutely no mention that the bag is authentic! If so, ask the seller to verify that they are offering an authentic product. If they fail to respond to your request, this may be a sign that they don't want to incriminate themselves. But be careful! Just because the seller claims it's authentic does not mean that it is.
8. Credo Patch: Most Kate Spade bags have a 'serial number' stamped on the inside, on a square patch of leather sewn into the lining. Some of the smaller purses (the 'clutch,' the 'swingpack' and the 'mini') do not have a serial number. The serial number typically consists of a series of numbers or a number-and-letter combination. The last 4-5 digits of the serial number indicate the style number of the bag. Careful, though, as fake Kate Spade bags also have a serial number - so just because the bag has a serial number does NOT mean the it is authentic.
**UPDATE** If the patch is not stamped - in other words, embossed into the leather - but is simply printed in ink - beware! The only bags I've seen with the credo patch printed in ink are the newer lines, like the Legacy, where the credo is lettered in gold-colored ink - and even then, it is still stamped into the leather before it's lettered over in gold.
***UPDATE REGARDING 'SERIAL NUMBERS'*** History: Bags from the late 1960's did not have any serial number. Kate Spade added serial numbers to the creed in the 1970's - each bag had a unique number - a 'serial number' in the true sense of the word. This was apparently true through the 1980's, and it was not until the 1990's that Kate Spade introduced the modern 'registration format' of letters and numbers, with the last four digits indicating the style number of the bag - or, in the late 2000's, the last five digits.
9. Fixtures: The 'Kate Spade' logo should be stamped on most of the metal hardware - except the older 'classic favorite' styles. **UPDATE** The newer Kate Spade bags do not have the Kate Spade stamp on any of the nickel/brass hardware, such as, the Legacy bags. But keep in mind that Kate Spade still makes their regular 'trendy' line of bags, although the newer ones do not appear to have Kate Spade stamped on the hardware (perhaps they are doing away with this). This is a situation where, because the style of a particular bag may change from year to year, you'll need to find a photo of the authentic product - and make sure it's the same style number - to compare with photos from the auction.
10. Zippers: Although the zipper pull on a real Kate Spade bag will be made of leather or a series of rings, the actual zipper mechanism which pulls the two sides of the zipper together should be embossed with the letters 'YKK'. This is the highest-quality manufacturer of zippers and Kate Spade uses this brand. Sometimes it's hard to see, especially on a photo. Even in person, you may need a magnifying glass to see the YKK, especially with very small zippers. Note: I have never seen a regular zipper pull on a Kate Spade bag - in my experience, they are either made of leather, a single ring, or series or rings. This is one of the wonderful ways Kate Spade makes their products unique, down to the very smallest detail!
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