Nicola Glass to replace Deborah Lloyd at Kate Spade as Creative Director

By

Obi Anyanwu

Published
Nov 9, 2017

Tapestry, Inc. on Wednesday announced the appointment of Nicola Glass as Creative Director of Kate Spade. She will join the company in the new calendar year and will succeed Deborah Lloyd, who has decided to leave Kate Spade.
 

 
Lloyd, who has served as Kate Spade President and Chief Creative Officer since 2007, was first reported in October to be leaving the accessories brand. Her departure comes several months after CEO Craig Leavitt parted ways with the label after its acquisition.
 
"We have great admiration for Deborah’s accomplishments and her vision and creative leadership have been instrumental to the growth of Kate Spade,” said Tapestry CEO, Victor Luis. "We wish her every success in the future and look forward to welcoming Nicola.”

Lloyd’s successor, Nicola Glass will be responsible for leading all creative aspects of the Kate Spade brand, including all product design, brand imagery and store environments. In addition, she will report to Luis, who currently holds the role of Brand President and Chief Executive Officer of Kate Spade.
 
Glass heads to Kate Spade from Michael Kors, where she currently serves as SVP of Accessories and Design overseeing all design and development of Michael Kors Collection and Michael Michael Kors. She has been with Michael Kors since 2004 and worked at Gucci as an accessories designer prior to joining the company.

“Nicola’s sensitivity and appreciation of Kate Spade along with her leadership skills, and deep design experience, uniquely qualify her to provide creative direction for Kate Spade," added Luis. "I am confident that her expertise - grounded in accessories - will enable her to build upon the brand’s fun, feminine and fashionable positioning to create innovative product and brand imagery, delighting customers in a singularly Kate Spade way, full of color and playful sophistication.”

Formerly known as Coach, Inc., Tapestry completed in July its tender offer to acquire Kate Spade. The handbag and accessories label had been eyeing a sale since late 2016, and Tapestry emerged as a buyer over Michael Kors.
 
Kate Spade is one of many brands on the Tapestry portfolio alongside Coach and Stuart Weitzman.