Dawn Of Spring

Celebrating 30 years of femininity, style and joy, Kate Spade's latest SS'23 collection is a toast to the beauty of spring and the legacy of the brand, which has extended beyond its homeground in new york city

- Jamie Lee

At the height of the 1990s, the arms of the It girls in New York City were all adorned by bags from one brand: Kate Spade. The late founder, who lent her name to her label, started the ball rolling when she saw a lack of functional and stylish bags and decided to fill that gap by designing her own.

Making samples out of construction paper, Spade brought colour and shape together and in 1993, she debuted six versions of the Sam bag. Women of all ages and styles loved the bag because they felt that it bridged the chasm between girlhood and womanhood perfectly, filling the needs of those who were transitioning between life stages. Three decades later, the label sits front and centre within New York City's sartorial culture and its range has expanded from handbags into a wide range of ready-to-wear, accessories, fragrances and footwear.

Last September, Kate Spade kicked off its 30th anniversary celebrations at New York Fashion Week, unveiling its SS' 23 collection at the World Trade Center. Attended by Rebel Wilson, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Regina Hall and Ava Phillippe, the presentation was all about new beginnings.

It was also an introduction to the brand's newly appointed head designers, Tom Mora and Jennifer Lyu, giving fans a glimpse of how the duo will build on Kate Spade's heritage codes while integrating their unique perspectives into the brand.