It’s been one year since the world lost Kate Spade, a true icon in the fashion world. Her passing left a void that many of us still feel today. But her legacy endures through the memories and tributes shared by those who knew her best. Now, her best friend and longtime business partner, Elyce Arons, has stepped forward to share a deeply personal tribute to her dear friend.
A Friendship That Changed Everything
Let me take you back to where it all began. Elyce Arons and Kate Spade, or Katy as her closest friends knew her, met as journalism students at the University of Kansas. It was during those formative years that a bond was forged that would last a lifetime. "Katy and I stayed up late those first nights, sharing stories we’d never told anyone," Elyce recalls. "I told her about the tragic loss of my older sister, and she opened up about the pain she endured when her parents divorced. We laughed, cried, and decided right then and there that we were going to start a business together. We didn’t know what it would look like yet, but we knew we wanted to do something big."
It wasn’t just business that brought them together. Their friendship was built on a shared love for practical jokes, music, and laughter. "No one could make me laugh like Katy," Elyce fondly remembers. "She had this way of lighting up a room just by walking in. Her energy was infectious, and her kindness was unmatched."
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The Journey to Success
Elyce and Kate’s journey wasn’t easy. They started from humble beginnings, crashing in a tiny apartment and waiting tables to make ends meet. But their dreams were big, and their determination was unmatched. "We worked out of Katy and her college sweetheart Andy’s industrial live/work loft in Tribeca," Elyce shares. "Orders would come flooding in from Barney’s and Saks Fifth Avenue on an old fax machine that our partner Pamela Bell got used from a friend. It was such an exciting time. We were building something from nothing, and every day felt like a triumph."
A Style That Defined an Era
What set Kate Spade apart wasn’t just her business acumen but her unique sense of style. In an era dominated by grunge, Kate’s designs stood out. "Katy’s ideas weren’t trendy or cool. They were timeless," Elyce explains. "Classics were her jumping-off point, and we created bags and shoes that we wanted to wear ourselves. She had this incredible ability to mix pieces of costume jewelry with her signature up-do and colorful, quirky outfits. Every look was different, every piece was original. Watching her style evolve and mature was nothing short of amazing."
After 15 years of growing their business, Elyce and Kate decided it was time to sell the company. This allowed them to focus on raising their families and spend more time at home. But their creative partnership didn’t end there. Two years ago, they launched a new direct-to-consumer brand called Frances Valentine. "We wanted to continue creating the kind of designs that Katy loved and that inspired so many women around the world," Elyce says.
