Kate Spade brand co-founders to be inducted into Cronkite hall of fame
Elyce Arons (right) and the late Kate Spade, co-founders of the Kate Spade brand, will be inducted into the alumni hall of fame in ASU's Cronkite School this March. Image courtesy of the Cronkite School
Iconic accessories brand designers Elyce Arons and the late Kate Spade will become the newest members of the alumni hall of fame at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication this March.
Spade and Arons are the creative forces and co-founders behind the Kate Spade brand they launched in 1993.
Both earned bachelor’s degrees from ASU in 1986 and went on to develop the idea for the business along with Spade’s husband, Andy. The brand became known for clean lines, bold colors, playful wit and approachable luxury, while defining a new era of American fashion in the 1990s and 2000s.
In 2016, the three launched Frances Valentine, a new brand that expanded their love of color, humor and design.
“It is an honor to be named to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism (Alumni) Hall of Fame at ASU," said Arons. “I was first inspired to pursue journalism by Mary Tyler Moore, and my time at ASU continued that journey. It was in Arizona that I began to dream of moving to New York City and working at a fashion magazine, a path that led me to my life's work: starting two fashion brands alongside my best friend and fellow ASU alumna, Kate Spade.”
“The story of Elyce Arons and Kate Spade is a powerful example of how a degree from Cronkite can truly take you places in life,” said Battinto L. Batts Jr., dean of the Cronkite School. “We are extremely proud of their accomplishments and to welcome their presence into our alumni hall of fame, where they will be celebrated and serve as an inspiration to current and future students."
Spade died in 2018 and will be posthumously inducted into the Cronkite School Alumni Hall of Fame along with Arons during a ceremony on Tuesday, March 3, at 4:30 p.m. Spade’s husband, Andy, will accept the award on her behalf. Following the ceremony, there will be a special Q&A panel discussion between Arons and Cronkite School students in the First Amendment Forum, followed by a reception in the first floor lobby Hall of Honor.
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