The Friendship That Changed Fashion Forever

Elyce Arons is the co-founder of Kate Spade New York and the co-founder and CEO of Frances Valentine. In this conversation, she shares the story behind building one of the most iconic fashion brands of all time — and how friendship, creativity, reinvention, and loss shaped her journey. Elyce opens up about meeting Katie Spade in college, the early days of creating Kate Spade, landing Barneys, scaling the brand, selling the company, and later starting Frances Valentine. She also reflects on Katie’s legacy, the importance of personal style, and what it means to build something meaningful with people you love. You’ll learn: • How Elyce and Katie Spade first met • How the idea for Kate Spade started • What made the brand stand out in the 1990s • How Barneys became an early turning point • What it was like building a business with friends • Why the founders eventually sold Kate Spade • How Frances Valentine honors Katie’s legacy • What Elyce learned about grief, reinvention, and creativity • Why personal style can help women feel more confident • Elyce’s advice for women building a career in fashion Whether you love fashion, entrepreneurship, brand-building, or the story behind Kate Spade, this episode is a powerful look at creativity, friendship, resilience, and carrying a legacy forward. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/61ZQ... 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎧 Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-p... Subscribe for more conversations with world-class experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, performers, and creators. 00:00 Intro 01:27 Inside the Frances Valentine Studio 02:53 Elyce’s Style, Vintage Fashion, and Creative Roots 04:30 Growing Up on a Farm in Kansas 08:23 Moving to New York 11:32 The Early Dream of Building a Business Together 13:24 How Kate Spade Started 16:00 The Four Founders and Building the Brand 19:16 The First Big Break With Barneys 20:49 Scaling Kate Spade Into an Iconic Brand 31:05 Selling Kate Spade and Starting Over 34:34 Building Frances Valentine 35:48 Losing Katie and Honoring Her Legacy 42:47 The Mission Behind Frances Valentine Today 47:20 Personal Style, Confidence, and Advice for Women 55:43 Katie’s Lasting Presence and Final Reflections 59:01 Closing