Kate Spade’s husband says tragic fashion designer was battling depression and reveals couple had been ‘living separately’ before her suicide

KATE Spade’s husband has said the tragic fashion designer was battling "demons" and revealed the couple had been “living separately” before her suicide.

Andy Spade said the American fashion designer had been battling depression and anxiety for "many years" and was on medication after seeing doctors.

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Kate, 55, was found dead in her apartment in New York on Tuesday after apparently taking her own life.

In a statement to the New York Times, Mr Spade said she had "sounded happy" when they spoke the night before.

"My daughter and I are devastated by her loss, and can't even begin to fathom life without her.

"We are deeply heartbroken and miss her already."

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Mr Spade said they had been living apart for the past 10 months, but had not legally separated or discussed divorce.

Their daughter, Frances Beatrix, who was born in 2005, had been living at both their homes and they maintained a semblance of family life.

He said: "We loved each other very much and simply needed a break.

"This is the truth. Anything else that is out there right now is false.

"She was actively seeking help for depression and anxiety..

"There was no substance or alcohol abuse. There were no business problems."

In her final interview in April last year, she revealed: "I really wish I worried less... I worried throughout the company [Kate Spade Handbags] and I still do."

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Mr Spade said his late wife had not left a note and he was "appalled" that a private message to their daughter had been "so heartlessly shared with the media".

His priority was now protecting her privacy, he said.

Kate's devastated sister Reta Saffo revealed yesterday that Spade had been suffering with a mental illness for the last three or four years and her suicide "was not unexpected by me".

She said family members had tried to help the mum-of-one get help but she was concerned that seeking treatment might harm the image of the "happy-go-lucky" Kate Spade brand.

Paying tribute the designer, Carl Vorderman said she understood what Kate might have gone through.

She said: "I don't know the circumstances for Kate Spade BUT many women in their 50s go through similar feelings... I did.

"It was diagnosed correctly as hormonal imbalance and I was 'cured' with bio identical gels within 48 hours. Never a similar thought since."

Spade was best known for the eponymous handbag brand she founded with her husband in 1993.

The brand became a household name with stores around the world and an expanded product line including clothing, footwear and stationery.

She completed the sale of her share of the business in 2006 for 124 million dollars (£93million), and left in 2007, taking time off for charity work and to look after her daughter, who was born in 2005.

Chelsea Clinton was among the public figures to pay tribute to the designer, saying: "My grandmother gave me my first Kate Spade bag when I was in college. I still have it."