{"id":3211,"date":"2020-03-04T08:31:26","date_gmt":"2020-03-04T08:31:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/?post_type=articles&p=3211"},"modified":"2021-04-12T09:00:03","modified_gmt":"2021-04-12T09:00:03","slug":"kate-spade-new-yorks-creative-director-on-the-environment-diversity-and-finding-a-work-life-balance","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/kate-spade-new-yorks-creative-director-on-the-environment-diversity-and-finding-a-work-life-balance\/","title":{"rendered":"Kate Spade New York’s Creative Director On The Environment, Diversity And Finding A Work-Life Balance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cass Bird Nicola Shoot Cass Bird Nicola Shoot;Kate Spade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last September, more than a year after joining Kate Spade as Creative Director, Nicola Glass created one of the most buzzed-about events of the season with her runway show at New York Fashion Week. Casting a diverse run of models, actresses and \u2018real\u2019 women, Glass\u2019 chic and unique, yet wearable collection was showcased in a secret community garden in NYC\u2019s Soho.<\/p>\n

Formerly a Gucci and Michael Kors accessories designer, Glass isn\u2019t just making dresses that look great, she\u2019s using her collection to change the narrative of a brand once labelled kitsch to something more elevated without losing the spirited and eclectic DNA for which KSNY is loved and celebrated.<\/p>\n

Over a shared shakshuka and pot of coffee,\u00a0Grazia<\/em>\u00a0Middle East sat down with Nicola on her recent visit to Dubai to talk about the importance of diversity, the environmental footprint of the fashion industry, and how carrying the right handbag can empower a woman.<\/p>\n

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Kate Spade SS20 Backstage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On diversity in fashion<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI felt really happy about the SS20 show because it pulled all the vision together \u2013 this idea of individuality. Kate Spade is a brand that appeals to a broad range of women and ages and this has always been reflected in our marketing and advertising campaigns \u2013 there\u2019s always been something to do with diversity. However, it was the first time in a runway show that we were able to really show that. We cast a diverse range of women from different walks of life, from well-known models like Karen Elson and Elizabeth Grace to the amazing Lyn Slater, the 65-year old New York-based influencer, along with plus-sized girls and actors like Debi Mazar and Molly Gordon. We wanted this idea of the guests feeling like they were sitting in a park watching real women walking past.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the SS20 show<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201cThere was a botanical feeling to the collection. I had been thinking of this idea of an urban safari, about how you can live in a city like New York but still find hidden oases of greenery. When I first moved to New York, I was living in the East village and I stumbled across these lovely community gardens. The environmental footprint of the show was very small because we didn\u2019t create a big set. We used only plants as props, which were then given away to guests and the passing public once the show was over. And the money we spent on renting the location went directly back into helping the park.\u201d<\/p>\n

On going green<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201cI think sustainability is something, frankly, that every brand needs to be considering. There\u2019s so much more I think we need to do [at Kate Spade], but we\u2019re definitely starting to do more, and all for the right reasons. Before I joined the brand, the linings inside the handbags were made with reused fabric. Now over 40 per cent of the bags have linings made from recycled plastic bottles, and we are looking to transition the dust bags in the same way. When you buy a handbag and it comes with a dust bag it\u2019s great to have that recycled component. There\u2019s lots more things we\u2019re thinking about and implementing, but I\u2019m happy that it\u2019s become such a big trend.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Kate Spade SS20 Backstage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On broad appeal<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201cI want KSNY pieces to be timeless. The reality is, none of us is buying a new wardrobe every season, and I don\u2019t imagine a woman coming and buying the entire collection. However, lots of women will find special pieces to take away and style themselves. No two women will wear something exactly the same; they will put their own stamp on it. I feel like the Spring\/Summer collection has that appeal to a broad range of women.\u201d<\/p>\n

On keeping it upbeat<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201cKate Spade is definitely a brand that will put a smile on your face; I won\u2019t be turning away from Kate Spade\u2019s novelty pieces. This season we have this little elephant bag that\u2019s called Tiny, but it\u2019s important for me when we\u2019re designing these particular pieces that there\u2019s a sense of craftsmanship in the way they are made. We have a consumer who loves these pieces and collects them, so I will keep introducing these novelty details.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Kate the trailblazer<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201cI was excited and slightly nervous when I took the job, because it was my first role as Creative Director. But Kate Spade was always a brand that inspired me, even when I was younger. I briefly studied architecture, followed by jewellery design, which transitioned into handbag design, and I started teaching myself how to make handbags in the early \u201990s. I read articles on Kate Spade starting her brand from home and I found it a really inspiring story. She was a trailblazer. I didn\u2019t have the access to Kate Spade bags because they weren\u2019t in the UK at the time, but I had read a lot about the brand, so when I was approached for the role at Kate Spade, I was really excited for the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

On brand identity\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so much I want to do, but at the same time I don\u2019t want to turn the brand upside down. I want to keep this very strong DNA of colour and optimism. It was one of the first brands that had accessible price points, and if you look back at old advertising campaigns, it\u2019s always had this spirited, eclectic feel. I think it\u2019s a brand that wants to have fun with fashion, that champions being different and individual; all those things really resonated with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Kate Spade SS20 Backstage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On fuelling female empowerement<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201cWhen a woman feels confident and at ease in her own skin, fashion can make her feel good. We are creating clothes that she feels comfortable in. We really stand for this idea of optimistic femininity, empowered easy dressing and a silly sensibility. For me, femininity is being confident, seeing strength in being a woman and being able to express yourself. I think even having the right handbag can empower women.\u201d<\/p>\n

On work-life balance<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all juggling busy lives. There\u2019s no such thing really as a nine-to-five job \u2013 especially if you\u2019re a creative, as I\u2019m constantly thinking about it. I feel like I\u2019m forever trying to find the perfect balance. With my son, I really engage him in what I\u2019m doing, whether it\u2019s coming into the office and watching me sketch or coming along to the shows. He understands why Mummy\u2019s at work and what she\u2019s doing. I feel really lucky because I have an incredible husband. He\u2019s a photographer and a Buddhist and his schedule is not quite as hectic as mine so we help balance and support each other. I try to be present and switch off at times; I try not to look at my work email before I leave home in the mornings. I\u2019m quite mindful, and my husband helps me with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photos: Jason Lloyd-Evans and supplied<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28925,"featured_media":3218,"template":"","format":"standard","categories":[65,1240,35],"yoast_head":"\nKate Spade New York's Creative Director On The Environment, Diversity And Finding A Work-Life Balance - Grazia Middle East<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/me\/articles\/kate-spade-new-yorks-creative-director-on-the-environment-diversity-and-finding-a-work-life-balance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kate Spade New York's Creative Director On The Environment, Diversity And Finding A Work-Life Balance\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Last September, more than a year after joining Kate Spade as Creative Director, Nicola Glass created one of the most buzzed-about events of the season with her runway show at New York Fashion Week. 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