Where Are Kate Spade Sunglasses Made

Kate Spade sunglasses are made by Safilo Group, the Italian eyewear manufacturer that has held the global license for Kate Spade New York eyewear since 2000.

Kate Spade New York is an American fashion brand founded in 1993, now owned by Tapestry Inc., the same company behind Coach.

Like nearly every major fashion label that sells sunglasses, Kate Spade does not manufacture its own eyewear. Instead, the brand licenses its name and design direction to a specialist eyewear company, which handles production, materials, and lens technology.

This arrangement can feel confusing if you assumed Kate Spade ran its own optical factory. It does not, and understanding why explains a lot about pricing, quality, and where your frames were actually assembled.

Below, we break down the licensing deal behind Kate Spade sunglasses, where production happens, how to spot a genuine pair, and whether the brand is worth buying.

Where Are Kate Spade Sunglasses Made?

Kate Spade sunglasses are produced under a licensing agreement with Safilo Group, an Italian eyewear manufacturer headquartered in Padua, Italy.

Safilo operates production and sourcing across several countries, including Italy and China, depending on the collection and price tier.

Most fashion sunglasses licensed to companies like Safilo are designed in Italy, with manufacturing split between Italian facilities for premium lines and other countries for mid range styles.

The exact factory location is not printed on Kate Spade marketing materials, but the frame temple or inside of the arm typically states the country of manufacture.

Safilo Group is one of the largest eyewear manufacturers in the world, with roots dating back to 1878 in the Veneto region of Italy, an area long associated with optical craftsmanship.

That heritage is part of why fashion brands choose to partner with Safilo rather than build production capacity themselves. It brings decades of frame engineering experience to every licensed collection.

Who Makes Kate Spade Eyewear? Understanding the Licensing Model

Fashion brands rarely build their own eyewear factories. Optical manufacturing requires specialized equipment, lens grinding expertise, and regulatory compliance that most apparel companies do not maintain in house.

Instead, brands like Kate Spade sign multi year licensing agreements with dedicated eyewear groups. The licensee designs frames that match the brand aesthetic, manufactures them, and distributes them to retailers worldwide.

Safilo first partnered with Kate Spade New York in 2000, and the two companies have renewed the agreement multiple times since, including an early renewal announced in 2023 that extended the partnership further.

Safilo’s portfolio includes dozens of licensed brands alongside its own house labels such as Carrera and Polaroid Eyewear, so Kate Spade sunglasses share production infrastructure with several other well known names.

This model benefits both sides. Kate Spade gains access to optical expertise and global distribution networks, while Safilo gains a recognizable name that draws in shoppers who already trust the brand.

It also means changes at the corporate level, such as a new license holder, can shift where and how future collections are produced, even if the Kate Spade name on the box stays the same.

Who Owns Kate Spade? (Tapestry Inc.)

Kate Spade New York is owned by Tapestry Inc., a publicly traded American fashion holding company also known for owning Coach.

Tapestry, formerly named Coach Inc., acquired Kate Spade & Company for approximately 2.4 billion dollars in July 2017.

Before that, Kate Spade had already changed hands several times. Neiman Marcus Group bought a majority stake in 1999 and full ownership by 2006, then sold the brand to Liz Claiborne Inc. later that same year.

Tapestry previously also owned Stuart Weitzman, but sold that footwear brand to Caleres in 2025, leaving Coach and Kate Spade as its two main labels today.

The parent company relationship matters for eyewear because Coach handbags are made in similar countries and through comparable licensing structures. Readers curious about that comparison can see our breakdown of where Coach bags are made, since Kate Spade and Coach share the same parent company.

Tapestry itself is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and it reports Kate Spade’s performance as part of its overall quarterly earnings rather than as a standalone eyewear business.

What Is Kate Spade’s Country of Origin?

Kate Spade New York was founded as an American company in January 1993 by Kate Brosnahan Spade and her husband Andy Spade in New York City.

The brand’s country of origin, meaning where it was established and headquartered, is the United States. That is separate from where individual products, including sunglasses, are physically manufactured today.

Design direction for Kate Spade eyewear is typically led by Safilo’s design teams in coordination with Kate Spade’s brand guidelines, blending American branding with Italian eyewear engineering.

That original 1993 handbag line grew into a full lifestyle brand covering clothing, jewelry, home goods, and eyewear, all still tied to the same New York based creative identity even after multiple ownership changes.

Are Kate Spade Sunglasses Made in Italy or China?

Kate Spade sunglasses can be made in either Italy or China, depending on the specific collection, materials, and price point.

Safilo maintains manufacturing capability in Italy for higher end acetate and metal frames, while other production runs, particularly for more accessible price tiers, are sourced from facilities in China.

This dual sourcing approach is standard across the licensed eyewear industry and is not unique to Kate Spade. Competing brands under similar licensing deals follow the same pattern.

Higher end sunglasses within the Kate Spade line, such as those using premium acetate or unique color treatments, are more likely to be produced in Italian facilities.

If you want to confirm the origin of a specific pair, check the inside of the temple arm, which is required by law in most countries to state where the product was manufactured.

Neither Italian nor Chinese manufacturing is inherently better on its own. What matters more is Safilo’s quality control process, which applies consistent standards across its factories regardless of location.

How to Tell if Kate Spade Sunglasses Are Authentic

No single feature proves authenticity on its own. Checking several details together gives a much more reliable answer.

Start with the packaging. Genuine Kate Spade sunglasses ship with a branded case, a cleaning cloth, and an authenticity or warranty card, all carrying consistent logo styling.

Inspect the temple arm for a printed model number, lens size, and country of manufacture. Safilo production typically includes a CE marking for European compliance alongside these details.

Look closely at the logo etching on the lens or temple. Authentic frames have crisp, evenly spaced lettering, while counterfeits often show blurry or misaligned engraving.

Finally, buy only from Kate Spade’s official site or an authorized retailer such as a licensed optical shop or major department store, since unauthorized third party sellers are the most common source of counterfeit eyewear.

A price that seems far below typical retail is another warning sign. Genuine Safilo made frames rarely sell at a steep discount outside of official sale events.

Are Kate Spade Sunglasses Good Quality? Are They Worth It?

Kate Spade sunglasses generally offer solid mid range quality, benefiting from Safilo’s manufacturing experience across many licensed and house brands.

Frames typically use acetate or metal construction with standard UV400 protection, comparable to other fashion forward brands in a similar price bracket.

Customer sentiment online is mixed but not unusual for a mass market fashion label. Kate Spade New York’s Trustpilot page for its UK storefront shows a range of reviews covering both product satisfaction and shipping experiences, which is worth checking before a purchase.

For buyers who prioritize fashion forward design over performance optics, Kate Spade sunglasses are a reasonable choice. Those wanting sport specific lens technology may prefer a dedicated performance brand instead.

Pricing typically sits in the affordable to mid range designer bracket, often lower than premium optical brands but higher than mass market drugstore sunglasses, reflecting the licensed fashion positioning of the line.

Replacement parts and lens options are more limited than with dedicated eyewear specialists, so buyers planning to use prescription lenses should confirm compatibility with a local optician before purchasing.

For comparison, shoppers researching lens technology and manufacturing often also look into where Ray Ban sunglasses are made, since that brand follows a different ownership and production model.

Kate Spade Customer Service & Where to Buy

Kate Spade New York sells sunglasses through its official site, outlet stores, and authorized retailers including major department stores and optical chains.

Customer service for the main site is reachable by phone or live chat, both available from 7 AM to 11 PM Eastern time, according to the brand’s official support page.

Buying from an authorized channel is the safest way to ensure your sunglasses come with a valid warranty and are genuine Safilo manufactured product rather than a counterfeit.

For warranty claims or repairs, contact Kate Spade’s customer service team directly rather than the retailer, since eyewear repairs are typically handled through Safilo’s service channels on the brand’s behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kate Spade Sunglasses

Who manufactures Kate Spade sunglasses?

Safilo Group, an Italian eyewear company, manufactures Kate Spade sunglasses under a global licensing agreement that has been in place since 2000.

Are Kate Spade sunglasses made in the same factories as other brands?

Yes. Safilo produces eyewear for numerous licensed and house brands, so Kate Spade frames often share manufacturing infrastructure with brands like Carrera and Polaroid Eyewear.

Is Kate Spade an American or Italian brand?

Kate Spade New York is an American brand, founded in New York City in 1993. Its sunglasses are manufactured by Safilo, an Italian company, under license.

Does Tapestry Inc. make Kate Spade sunglasses directly?

No. Tapestry Inc. owns the Kate Spade brand itself, but eyewear production is handled entirely by licensee Safilo Group, not by Tapestry.