Kate Spade’s best friend has reflected on her devastating suicide and how she ‘misses her every day.’

Spade was found dead in her Manhattan apartment on June 5, 2018 at the age of 55.

At the time, police reported she had left a note, which was addressed to her only daughter, Frances Valentine Beatrix Spade.

The day following her death, Spade’s husband Andy Spade released a statement that revealed his wife was on medication for depression and anxiety.

Elyce Arons, the co-founder of Kate Spade and spin-off brand Frances Valentine, had enjoyed 40 years of friendship with the late designer.

Speaking at the 19th Annual HOPE Luncheon Seminar as she accepted the 2025 Hope Community Award, she detailed her grief and how it motivated her to carry forward the late Spade’s legacy.

Addressing the audience at the luncheon held at the Plaza in New York City on Wednesday, Arons said: ‘After we lost her, I was really in shock.

‘I just lost my best friend nearly 40 years, but I knew I had to show up for her family and for her team and friends at Frances Valentine.

‘They were back in the office, really, both personally and professionally, feeling deep uncertainty about what the future would hold.’

Arons co-founded Kate Spade along with Spade, her husband, and Pamela Bell in January 1993.

In 2016, Arons and Spade launched a new collection of luxury footwear and handbags under the brand name Frances Valentine.

Before Spade’s death, Frances Valentine had only ever made handbags, shoes and accessories because that’s what the late designer ‘loved to design,’ but, in the wake of her passing, Arons had ‘decision to make.’

‘I never really envisioned running Frances Valentine by myself, but we decided to keep going,’ she said, and in doing so she took the brand in a new direction and introduced clothing in Spade’s honor.

She said: ‘We decided to create a small capsule of clothing called Love, Katy, and the pieces were really inspired by vintage pieces that we had collected over the years.

‘One was a kaftan that she had worn on every vacation we’d ever taken together, and the other was a sweater that had flowers and Kate wore it backwards all the time, she was so cute.

‘Those pieces fold out again and again, and our customers started asking for pieces, and it inspired us to expand a full apparel collection that we have today.’

Seven years have passed since Spade’s death, but Arons continues to carry her spirit with her ‘every day.’

‘I try to honor her legacy and everything we do with Frances Valentine,’ she said.

Wednesday’s 19th HOPE seminar, led by Master of Ceremonies Chuck Scarborough, focussed on ‘Stress and the Brain: The Link between Stress and Depression.’

Top scientists and psychiatrists took to the stage to address science-backed tools to protect brain health and well-being.

Elsewhere, multi-award-winning singer and actress Audra McDonald accepted the 2025 Hope Award for Depression Advocacy.