Nearly eight months afterKate Spadetragically took her own lifeat age 55, the iconic fashion designer’s niece, Rachel Brosnahan, is opening up abouther aunt’s legacy.
“[She was] one of the closest members of our family certainly and one of the kindest and most generous people I ever had the privilege of knowing,” the award-winning star ofThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, 28, said during a candid interview onTODAY.
Jon Kopaloff/Getty; Monica Schipper/WireImage

The actress is keeping her aunt’s memory alive through a new meaningful fashion project. She’s starring as the new face of the spring campaign forFrances Valentine, the label Spade founded in 2016.
For more on how Kate Spade’s family, friends and fashion label are keeping the late designer’s legacy alive, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
“When you lose someone you love very, very much, you spend a lot of time trying to think about how to keep their spirit alive. There is so much of her left behind and this was an opportunity for us to celebrate her life and her legacy,” Brosnahan said.
Maggie Cepis for Frances Valentine

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Theaward-winning actressdiscussed her new campaign exclusivelyin this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

Spade founded Frances Valentine with her husband of 24 years, Andy Spade, 56, as well as Elyce Arons, who was her best friend since they were college freshmen. The designer named it after her daughter, Frances Beatrix (“Bea”), 13. (The Spades and Arons launched the line a decade after Spade left her namesake empire, which they helped build together.)
“I think it’s more meaningful than any other campaign we’ve done because it’s [Rachel], and she was so close to Katy,” Arons told PEOPLE. “I know it would really make Katy smile.”
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273- TALK (8255), text “HOME” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go tosuicidepreventionlifeline.org.
source: people.com