Owning a business, as I have, is in some ways like raising a child — the worry consumes you 24/7, and like children, as a business grows, you can't always protect it, or control the future. Kate Spade built a brand. I admired her and remember purchasing my first Kate Spade pocketbook.
A pocketbook is, for many, a status symbol, and a mark of professional achievement too - many remember when they could afford their first designer bag. There have always been "knock-off" versions available from street vendors, but to go into a store and buy the "real thing" meant something. When it came time for my oldest daughter to have a pocketbook I bought her a Kate Spade because its fun and cute and youthful, and the brand was iconic.
In life, we understand that success breeds success, and women especially need to look at each other as allies, raising each other up. People need to understand every business and person who came before us offers us a lesson. Kate Spade was a determined, brilliant business woman and role model. She was an inspiration to so many of us, making her death that much more difficult. When a loved one commits suicide, the pain of loss is compounded by the feeling that we failed the departed. The best way we can heal is to recognize the signs of depression in those around us and reach out to them while we still can.
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If you or someone you love is at risk for suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, at 1-800-273-TALK (2755) or text Talk to 741741 Help is available!
