Kate Spade teams up with Harlem's Fashion Row

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Sep 28, 2022

Tapestry, Inc. and Kate Spade New York announced on Tuesday a new three-year partnership with Harlem’s Fashion Row’s (HFR) annual HBCU Fashion Summit.

As part of the partnership, a new program starting Tuesday offers students at Bowie State University - Maryland’s oldest Historically Black University - unique access to engage with Kate Spade’s team of executive leaders and designers. 

In particular, the 2022 HBCU Fashion Summit will include exclusive courses headed by Kate Spade leaders, such as Liz Fraser, chief executive officer and brand president, Kristen Naiman, SVP of brand concept and strategy, Tom Mora, SVP and head of design, RTW & lifestyle categories, Jennifer Lyu, SVP and head of design, leather goods and accessories, Tapestry’s David Casey, chief inclusion and social impact officer, and more.

Topics will span the history of Kate Spade and Tapestry, materials for accessory design, mental health and the fashion industry, and more. 

“With Tapestry’s overwhelming support for our core initiative, to holistically prepare Gen-Z for fashion’s workforce with comprehensive programming, I’m confident, together, we can provide scholars with an opportunity to thrive in an incredibly transformative externship experience,” said Brandice Daniel, CEO and founder of Harlem's Fashion Row. “The industry is vying for change, but we can only be most innovative when Black talent is included.”

HFR was founded in 2007. It supports emerging talent and provides a platform for underrepresented Black and Latinx designers. The HBCU Fashion Summit is a program first launched by HFR in 2020, and is intended to transform the art and fashion programs at HBCUs across America by providing students with direct design expertise from industry experts.

“We are committed to investing in and supporting diverse talent, and are excited to bring this partnership to life with Harlem’s Fashion Row - an organization we have long respected as a pioneer in the industry - alongside our parent company, Tapestry,” added Liz Fraser, CEO & president of Kate Spade New York.

“We have designed the curriculum to highlight Kate Spade New York’s strengths and our teams' successes to give students an opportunity to work directly with the team members – from all levels - who are driving those successes.”

Looking ahead, Tapestry said its three-year partnership with the organization will expand to include leaders from across its global house of brands, including Coach and Stuart Weitzman.