Kate Spade New York, which became famous for fashion, has taken the final step to becoming a complete lifestyle brand by launching its home furnishings line during the recent High Point Market.
After an initial venture into the home category via the tabletop market with fine and casual china, flatware, glasses, frames, vases and more, Kate Spade Home teamed up with three manufacturing partners: E.J.Victor for furniture, Jaipur for rugs and Visual Comfort for lamps. As with its clothing and handbags, certain signature motifs are evident. When it came to furniture, designers took a conservative approach. The collection's overall aesthetic is subtler than some may have expected.
"We didn't want it to be too girly. Bows, dots, stripes and color are our roots, but the home is for everyone," said Debs Camplin, senior vice president of design.
Designers did try bright pops of colors in the drawers but decided against it. Instead, they used the accessories and hardware to express the more obvious Kate Spade personality.
"We are feminine not girly, clever not kitsch," Camplin said.
The bow on the stem of the Ellery side table is one of the more obvious Kate Spade motifs.
"Our slipper chair shows a dash of leg, and the Sputnik-looking Dickinson table lamp and pendant reflects our love of sparkles and diamonds," she said.
Look for the company's more preppy side in future introductions, Camplin said. It's all available now online at Katespade.com/home.
