Inside Handbag Design with Constantina Dendramis: My Day at Kate Spade
Photo Caption:
Constantina Dendramis, Senior Technical Designer, Kate Spade
Photo Caption:
Simone Ljung, Fashion Merchandising and Management Alumna, Class of 2025
For our Fashion Innovation & Capstone class, I had the chance to speak with a fashion industry professional of my choice, and I knew right away whom I wanted to interview. I’ve always been fascinated by handbags, and Constantina Dendramis, Senior Technical Designer at Kate Spade New York, was the perfect person to show me the ropes. Dendramis combines creative artistry with technical mastery, and I wanted to know how she makes that happen.
We met in person at Tapestry's Hudson Yards office, and I even got a mini-tour of the facility. Walking into a space where real design work unfolds every day felt like getting a sneak peek at the life I’m working so hard toward.
Dendramis' career began in sculpture and ceramics at the University of Cincinnati. She then moved on to FIT for Accessories Design. Her hands-on love of 3D shapes is what drew her into fashion, and bags just clicked. “At first, I thought I’d go into footwear because it’s so sculptural,” Dendramis said. “But I ended up sticking with handbags.”
Dendramis has held both freelance and full-time roles at Coach, Michael Kors, Vince Camuto, and more. That mix gave her a deep understanding of materials and construction methods. “I’ve worked on tiny teams with just two people, and now at Kate Spade, where we are a team of 30. It’s energizing to collaborate and be in an environment where people actually enjoy their work.” Dendramis joined Kate Spade full-time in October 2021, and she told me the vibe and creativity of the team made her want to stay and grow.
Dendramis’ day-to-day work sounds like a dream job. She works on detailed technical drawings, checks samples, reviews sizing, and communicates with different departments to make sure the handbags look beautiful and function correctly. Her go-to tool is Adobe Illustrator, and lately she has been learning Adobe Substance, a 3D program that lets the user test out colors, materials, and hardware digitally. “It helps cut down on waste, and you can play without committing to a physical sample right away,” Dendramis said.
That kind of smart, sustainable innovation is playful and curious, just like Dendramis, and it proves that you don’t have to sacrifice creativity to be efficient and conscious of impact.
We also talked about the latest fashion trends. Dendramis laughed and said, “I’m seeing things come back from 2012 that I worked on at Target.” It made me realize how circular the fashion industry is. Dendramis also pointed out that rising material costs are forcing designers to be more intentional. Kate Spade uses recycled linings, avoids over-developing styles, and takes care with sourcing. Dendramis shared her personal take on leather too: that high-quality leather, when used thoughtfully, can be more sustainable than some vegan alternatives that fall apart or peel after a year, which made me think more critically about what “sustainable” actually means.
One of my favorite moments was when Dendramis told me she and her team go to Times Square to see how people use their bags. “What’s trending online doesn’t always match what people are carrying in real life,” Dendramis said. It was inspiring to hear a designer say that observing the world around you is just as important as following trends on TikTok. Fashion Revolution’s Transparency Index (2024) also discusses this shift toward human-centered design, so it was great to hear the same idea echoed in real life.
Dendramis offered sage advice for students like me: “Learn Illustrator. Be organized. And stay humble.” She was honest about not hiring anyone who did not know the basics of Illustrator, even at a junior level, and reminded me how important it is to build connections. “Every job I’ve ever gotten,” Dendramis said, “came through a connection, not from applying online.”
As someone currently building my resume and applying to jobs, that hit home. Both of my current internships came through school connections. It was comforting and motivating to hear that even seasoned pros got their start the same way.
Talking to Constantina Dendramis gave me a clearer picture of what a technical design career really looks like, and reminded me that being curious, collaborative, and willing to learn matters just as much as talent. Dendramis’ confidence, humor, and sharp insight were contagious, and she made me want to keep pushing, keep practicing, and keep staying open to wherever this wild industry might take me.
Stepping into the Kate Spade office, talking fashion at eye-level with a designer I admire, and picturing myself in that world was unforgettable. It wasn’t just inspiring, it was grounding. It reminded me that this dream of mine is real, and it’s within reach.
The views and/or opinions in this article are those of the individuals interviewed. The academic achievements and/or employment outcomes described in this article are specific to each individual and are not a guarantee of similar results for past or current students. For up-to-date and detailed information, please visit BerkeleyCollege.edu and view our catalogs at BerkeleyCollege.edu/publications.
