Partners & Spade

I’ve decided to continue the theme of spotlighting my favorite things. Today it is the acclaimed hybrid advertising agency-gallery-boutique called Partners & Spade.

Partners & Spade was founded in 2008 by Andy Spade and Anthony Sperduti.

To understand the magic of Partners & Spade, you have to understand the work of Andy.

There’s a great interview with him in Interview Magazine that I’ll quote:

“[Andy] is one of the great underknown geniuses of Western civilization. He’s been a copywriter, a creative director, a fashion mogul, an activist, an art patron, a publisher, a consultant, a gallerist, and an artist in his own right. Along with his wife, Kate, he created the Kate Spade brand, then he did an amazing men’s sideline, Jack Spade. When he and Kate sold the business, Andy Spade stepped back—for about a minute. Since then, he has done some wild and crazy advertising for clients such as The Village Voice, invented a new retail concept, The J.Crew Liquor Store, opened an art venue, Half Gallery, and now has created the next step, Partners & Spade.”

The story of Andy and his wife Kate and their rise to success is an inspiring one, as well. I’m amazed by their sheer talent and the fact that they just seem to be doing things that make them happy. There’s a great NYMag article about them here.

But back to the studio. Partners & Spade operates as a storefront and studio in Manhattan. The studio produces films, books, apparel and conceptual products and the storefront offers items like $2500 rare books, $3600 toys designed by Renate Muller and burglary kits (perhaps for those who want said toys but can’t afford them). Oh my god, I just saw they have beautiful handmade arrows by Fredericks & Mae. It’s such a good thing for my bank account that I do NOT live in NYC.

The storefront also serves as a space for creative happenings and special events, like hosting artist Will Cotton, known for his paintings of cookies and cakes coupled with scantily clad women, or conducting the monthly Avant Garde Preschool.

I became aware of Partners & Spade after reading about them repeatedly on all of the blogs I frequent. When I learned they were the brains behind J.Crew’s beautiful Liquor Store, I became a fan for life. Earlier this year, they launched a blog (which I of course follow) that is really a procession of images that are loosely connected with each other. No text, just a link to its source. The photos are all tagged according to their dominant colour rather than subject.

J.Crew's Liquor Store

For my New York friends, please go by and visit this space on the weekends when it’s open to the public, or watch when they have events. For everyone else, get lost in their blog.

Partners & Spade
40 Great Jones
New York, New York

Caroline