Kate Spade: the New York chic that reinvented the handbag

Kate Spade New York is a leather goods house founded in 1993 in New York, known worldwide for its colorful handbags, its spade logo and its all-American elegance, joyful and sophisticated at once. From the Fashion Week runways to the streets of Manhattan, the Kate Spade bag has established itself as one of the most recognizable accessories in accessible luxury. At MTHOR, we select the most sought-after Kate Spade pieces — handbags, crossbody bags, shoulder bags like the Talia, wallets and small leather goods — all checked and authenticated by our team of experts before shipping. Every bag arrives in its original condition, with its tags and dust bag whenever the brand provides one, ready to be worn or gifted.

The story of an icon: from Mademoiselle to the Tapestry giant

Kate Spade New York was founded in January 1993 by Kate Brosnahan, then accessories editor at Mademoiselle magazine, and her future husband Andy Spade. Their insight: the market was missing a handbag that was functional, elegant and affordable all at once. Their first collection featured just six designs, including the famous Sam, a boxy black nylon bag that quickly became the it-bag of 1990s New York. In 1996, the house opened its first store in the SoHo district, and the little spade logo entered American popular culture.

What followed was a steady rise: Kate Spade expanded its universe to wallets, jewelry, watches and ready-to-wear, multiplied signature prints like the spade flower, then joined the Tapestry group — parent company of Coach — in 2017 following a $2.4 billion acquisition. In 2019, the brand relaunched its founding design with the Sam Icon, a faithful reissue of the 1993 bag, hailed by the fashion press as one of the great comebacks of the decade. Today, Kate Spade New York remains one of the most popular American houses in the world, carried by a loyal community and high-profile collaborations, most notably with the Disney universe.

Unique craftsmanship: Saffiano leather, crossgrain and signature details

Kate Spade bags are crafted mostly from Saffiano leather and crossgrain leather, two textured leathers renowned for their resistance to scratches and splashes, which makes them perfectly suited to everyday use. Gold-tone hardware, printed linings, even stitching and the appliquéd or engraved spade logo complete a meticulous construction, inherited from the demanding standards of New York leather craftsmanship. Multi-compartment models such as the triple-compartment Talia are designed to organize the essentials — phone, cards, keys — without sacrificing the bag's silhouette.

Three benefits sum up the brand's DNA: genuine everyday durability thanks to easy-care textured leathers, an accessible luxury positioning offering remarkable build quality for the price, and an instantly recognizable visual identity — bold colors, gold spade and touches of humor — that sets a Kate Spade bag apart at first glance.

The iconic models in the Kate Spade collection

The Sam Icon, reissue of the founding 1993 bag, remains the house's most symbolic piece. The Talia, a triple-compartment shoulder bag available at MTHOR, embodies everyday New York life: compact, organized, offered in neutral leathers that are easy to match. Other sought-after silhouettes include the Manhattan tote, the Knott bucket bag, the smiling Smile line, satchels and compact crossbody bags, as well as small leather goods — the Kate Spade wallet, coin purses and card holders — often chosen as a first purchase from the brand or as a gift. As for the Kate Spade x Disney editions, adorned with Minnie or other characters, they sell out as soon as they drop and quickly gain value among collectors. On the color front, the house alternates between timeless neutrals — black, taupe, cream — and the bold hues that built its reputation: bubblegum pink, apple green, French navy blue. A Kate Spade handbag in a neutral colorway like the Talia Soft Taupe fits into any wardrobe, while vivid shades and spade flower prints are made for lovers of statement pieces. MTHOR's Kate Spade collection evolves with our new arrivals: every piece is one of a kind or available in very limited quantity, as resell goes — if a model catches your eye, it won't stay available for long.

How to care for your Kate Spade bag?

Caring for a Kate Spade bag in Saffiano or crossgrain leather is remarkably simple, and it's one of the reasons behind the brand's success. The grained texture of these leathers hides everyday micro-scratches: a soft, slightly damp cloth is enough to clean the surface, with no harsh soap or solvent that could damage the finish. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, which can alter the house's signature vivid shades, and protect the gold-tone hardware from rubbing by not overfilling the bag.

For storage, keep your bag in its dust bag, holding its shape with tissue paper — never newspaper, whose ink can migrate into the lining. A well-cared-for Kate Spade bag keeps its structure and value for years: that's also what makes it a sought-after piece on the second-hand and resell market, where sold-out models such as the Disney editions resell above their original price.

Why buy your Kate Spade bag at MTHOR

MTHOR Shop, a French authenticated resell store, specializes in selling authenticated sneakers and accessories. Every bag in our Kate Spade collection goes through a rigorous inspection carried out by our team of experts: we check the consistency of labels and markings, the material, stitching, lining and hardware, as well as the included accessories such as the dust bag. For the most advanced checks, we rely on specialized tools such as a UV lamp or microscope. Every order ships with a tamper-proof seal, tangible proof that quality control has been performed and authenticity confirmed. Learn more about our authentication process.

We offer worldwide home delivery in 2 to 8 days with signature on receipt, real-time tracking by email and WhatsApp, interest-free payment in 4 installments via Klarna or Scalapay, and a France-based customer service team available Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. If anything goes wrong, our 14-day return policy has you covered.

FAQ — Kate Spade bags at MTHOR

How can you verify the authenticity of a Kate Spade bag?

At MTHOR, every Kate Spade bag is authenticated by our team of experts before shipping: consistency of labels and interior markings, quality of the leather and stitching, finish of the hardware and lining, with UV lamp and microscope checks for the most sensitive points. Your order arrives with a seal certifying that quality control has been performed. Discover our detailed authentication process.

Where can you buy a Kate Spade bag in France?

Kate Spade New York has only a very limited retail network in France, which makes some models hard to find. MTHOR offers a selection of authenticated Kate Spade bags, shipped from France to anywhere in the world in 2 to 8 days, with interest-free payment in 4 installments — without depending on US stock or import fees.

Which Kate Spade bag should you choose?

For a first Kate Spade bag, the triple-compartment Talia is a versatile choice: medium size, efficient interior organization and easy-care leather. The Sam Icon will appeal to lovers of heritage pieces, while small leather goods — wallets and card holders — offer an affordable way into the brand's universe. Limited editions, such as the Disney collaborations, are aimed more at collectors.

What accessories come with my Kate Spade bag?

Every Kate Spade bag sold by MTHOR is delivered in its original condition, with its tags and dust bag whenever the brand provides one. Everything is verified during quality control, and the parcel ships under MTHOR seal, proof that the piece has been inspected and authenticated.

Does Kate Spade offer accessories other than bags?

Yes, Kate Spade New York extends its universe well beyond handbags: wallets, card holders and coin purses, jewelry, Kate Spade watches and fragrances round out the house's collections. At MTHOR, our selection focuses on leather goods — bags, crossbody bags and small leather goods — in other words, the brand's most sought-after pieces on the resell market.

What is the delivery time?

We ship worldwide, with home delivery against signature within 2 to 8 days. You get real-time tracking by email and WhatsApp, whatever your destination.

Will I have to pay customs fees?

No, you won't pay any customs fees. MTHOR covers all customs duties and taxes, whatever your destination worldwide. The price shown on the site is the final price you pay: no bad surprises on delivery.

Can I return my bag if it's not right for me?

Yes. You have 14 days after receipt to return your Kate Spade bag, provided it is in its original condition (never worn, tags in place, seal intact). Refunds are processed within 24 hours of receiving the return.

Going further

Also discover our full range of authenticated bags and our selection of pre-owned luxury bags. To learn all about the quality of our products, check out our detailed authentication process.