Handbag designer, Kate Spade passes away at 55

Known for her eponymous fashion line and her coming-of-age bags, Kate Spade was found dead at her Manhattan apartment on Tuesday. And her death that was discovered by a housekeeper has hit a tender nerve not just in New York but across the globe too. The designer created an accessories empire that helped define the look of an era. The purses she made became a status symbol and a token of adulthood. She built a brand to reckon with, if we may.

Law enforcement sources confirmed that she was found dead at 10:20 AM ET on Tuesday and she was pronounced dead at the scene. As per reports by a leading news agency, a suicide note was found at the scene too. However, the content of the note is not known yet.

Much of the shock surrounding Spade's death has to do with the fact that she seemed, to many, to lack nothing. She was regarded as an industry icon even though she had not been involved with her namesake company for more than a decade. However, she had her hands in several other recent ventures, including an accessories label called Frances Valentine, named after her 13-year-old daughter. A leading entertainment magazine even reported that her 25-year marriage to Andy Spade was seemingly "perfect."

Kate is survived by her daughter, Frances Beatrix Spade and by her husband, Andy Spade. Her sudden death has even stirred up conversations regarding mental health on social media with people emphasising that 'having it all' isn't always enough. Kate Spade, you have made generations of women feel confident with the empire you built and with your bags and we hope you rest in peace...