Kate Spade New York Presents Debut Collection From Creative Director Nicola Glass
The Spring 2019 season marks the debut collection for Nicola Glass, Kate Spade New York’s new Creative Director, with the brand’s first-ever runway show at the iconic New York Public Library.
Having always been attracted to the brand’s core DNA – the modern use of color and authentic design – Nicola Glass saw an opportunity to examine and refine the existing codes of the house, evolving them in her own way.
“Kate and Andy were groundbreaking when they launched Kate Spade 25 years ago. The purity of their design approach immediately appealed to me. I remember when Kate took the market by storm – it combined simplicity and elegance. Kate Spade has always been a healthy and powerful brand with a positive message of helping women express themselves through fashion. The brand celebrates that it’s great to be a woman.”
“I saw so much opportunity to evolve the collection, while maintaining Kate Spade’s strong brand heritage and unique personality. Overall, the collection is more modern and less retro; there is a sense of polished ease. It’s both sophisticated and youthful, with an air of sensuality. Details are very important to me. Our new products are intended to be experienced up close; not everything is visible at first glance.” — Nicola Glass
Inspired by the origins of the brand, Nicola looked at how she could build upon the collection season after season, establishing consistencies and core elements across categories – starting with the spade itself. Used as a design element throughout the collection, the spade is integrated both overtly and subtly into patterns, cutouts and functional hardware. “The spade has endless possibilities,” Nicola added.
Feminine silhouettes nod to the ‘70s and 40’s; colors become more modern through saturated solids and unexpected combinations; a unique print language ignites a sense of discovery; handbags take on a new level of luxury with unique applications and sumptuous fabrics – all rooted in the idea of everyday luxuries.
The brand paid tribute to its founder, Kate Spade, by honoring the joy and beauty she brought into the world, leaving an in-memoriam card on each seat that read, “She left a little sparkle everywhere she went.” Models followed a sparkle path along the runway, and sparkle elements were incorporated into makeup and nail designs.
