Fashion Week
Jennifer Lyu and Tom Mora open up about the future of the iconic brand.
ForKate Spade New York, the past few years have been transformative.
Tell me about this new era of Kate Spade.
What is your vision for evolving the brand?
A lot of current fashion trends are revivals from the 90s and 2000s.
How are you balancing that demand while staying true to the Kate Spade brand?
Its a delicate balance and a dance.
Its bringing back a little bit more statement jewelry.
Kate Spade was one of the most iconic early 2000s brands.
Have you drawn inspiration from any of the designs from back then?
Yes, there are references, but it really is a new vision.
Lyu: Its not referential.
Theres a really famous frog wicker bag or dog wicker bag.
I might take hints of it, but [its] not referential.
Mora: Its all really connected and it feels really cohesive.
It was an inside joke almost.
Did either of you know Kate, or are you coming at this from a complete outsider perspective?
It was pretty cool, but obviously we both followed the brand from the very beginning.
Kate Spade is a formative brand for a lot of people.
What was your first experience with the brand?
Lyu:The Finn Bag.
Do you remember when that was, what that was like?
Lyu: Early first job out of college and really saving up.
Theres a power to buying retail.
And I still remember that feeling and that experience of accomplishment.
Thats what I remember.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.