kate spade new york is launching a Social Impact Council to expand their work towards empowering women around the world. They are kicking off the campaign with a focus on mental health, hoping to end the stigma surrounding mental health issues and provide resources to those struggling.  

“Women’s empowerment has been at the heart of our social impact efforts for over a decade, and has become a core pillar of the kate spade new york brand,” says CEO and Brand President Liz Fraser. 

The Council is made up of powerful women and mental health ambassadors, including actress and Founder of The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation Taraji P. Henson, President and Co-founder of Born This Way Foundation, Cynthia Germanotta, Co-Founder of Voices of Hope, Jazz Thornton, and Founder of Mama Glow, Latham Thomas.  

The Council with work with kate spade new york to host and participate in both in-person and digital activations within the community throughout the year. Their goal is to provide 100,000 women with direct access to mental health and empowerment tools by 2025. 

“Women can change the course of history by standing up for what is fair and just. We should be seen, heard, and acknowledged as equals, in every industry,” says Henson. “My biggest dream is to see girls and women free of shame, to openly talk about what’s hiding in the dark shadows.” 

kate spade new york has been funding women’s empowerment efforts since 2014, when the brand started their on purpose movement, working with handbag creators in Rwanda to provide jobs and education for Rwandan women. The 2018 death by suicide of creative founder Kate Brosnahan Spade led to the expansion of the brands social impact program, and reaffirmed the importance of providing women with support and mental health resources.