# Kate Spade: Kate & Andy Spade (2017)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2018-01-08
- Length: 39m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-01-08-kate-spade-kate-andy-spade-2017

## Summary

Kate and Andy Spade, the founders of Kate Spade New York, recount building an iconic handbag brand from scratch in the early 1990s. Starting with burlap bags designed in their apartment and funded by their savings, they navigated early financial struggles and near-collapse before securing orders from Barney's and Neiman Marcus. The episode details their transition from a garage-style startup to a scaled enterprise, culminating in a majority stake sale to Neiman Marcus and their eventual exit to launch a new venture, Francis Valentine.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-01-08-kate-spade-kate-andy-spade-2017#t=0) Introduction: Kate & Andy Spade
- [1:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-01-08-kate-spade-kate-andy-spade-2017#t=108) Early Life and Meeting in New York
- [8:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-01-08-kate-spade-kate-andy-spade-2017#t=508) The Idea: Simple Handbags and Burlap
- [10:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-01-08-kate-spade-kate-andy-spade-2017#t=638) Prototyping and Sourcing Materials
- [13:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-01-08-kate-spade-kate-andy-spade-2017#t=832) First Trade Show and Early Sales
- [19:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-01-08-kate-spade-kate-andy-spade-2017#t=1195) Financial Struggles and Near Collapse
- [25:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-01-08-kate-spade-kate-andy-spade-2017#t=1503) Scaling with Neiman Marcus and CFDA Award
- [27:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-01-08-kate-spade-kate-andy-spade-2017#t=1655) Selling to Neiman Marcus and Expansion
- [30:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-01-08-kate-spade-kate-andy-spade-2017#t=1843) Exit and Francis Valentine

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, companies scaling up, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Kate Spade New York (company)
- Francis Valentine (company)
- Neiman Marcus (company)
- Barney's (company)
- CFDA (other)
- Mademoiselle Magazine (company)
- Conde Nast (company)
- Bozel Jacobs, Kenyon and Eckhart (company)
- Versace (company)
- Sachs (company)
- Texas Pacific (company)
- Jack Spade (company)

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- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 1 - Rich Brilliant Willing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-08-19-afterschool-podcast-episode-1-rich-brilliant-willing) (Core77 Podcast)
- [#100 Toasting to 100 Episodes of The Startup CPG Podcast with Our Favorite Moments](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-07-25-100-toasting-to-100-episodes-of-the-startup-cpg-podcast-with-our-favorite-moment) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Gabriella Labi and Tonya Reznikovich of Gato Dates](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-03-founder-feature-gabriella-labi-and-tonya-reznikovich-of-gato-dates) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Fundraising Journey: Craig Dubitsky, Happy Products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-18-founder-fundraising-journey-craig-dubitsky-happy-products) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-01-08-kate-spade-kate-andy-spade-2017. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.