A friend of has said the fashion designer and her widower attempted to work through their issues. A housekeeper found the designer dead at her apartment in Manhattan, New York.

Local police found a note which was addressed to Kate's daughter following her death, which was ruled to be suicide. Now, a friend of the late icon has claimed that Kate and her husband Andy had been attempting to work through their

Although they hadn't been legally separated, Kate and Andy had been living apart for ten months before she sadly died. Elyce Arons, a friend of the fashion designer, has now shed light on Kate's final few months.

In her upcoming memoir, she said: "They were trying to work things out – and they were always in each other's lives every day." In the excerpt of We Might Just Make It After All: My Best Friendship With Kate Spade, Arons went on to add: "They loved each other."

Kate and Andy were married for 24 years and welcomed daughter Frances Beatrice Valentine Spade, now 20, in 2005. But Arons has also claimed that the late fashion mogul was extremely private but often opened up to her about her struggles.

Following Kate's death, Andy, who maintains a low public profile, issued a rare statement explaining that they had never discussed divorcing one another. He said: "We were not legally separated, and never even discussed divorce. We were best friends trying to work through our problems in the best way we knew how.

"We were together for 35 years, we loved each other very much and simply needed a break." He also shed light on Kate's mental health, explaining she had suffered from depression and anxiety for "many years." He commented: "She was actively seeking help and working closely with doctors to treat her disease, one that takes far too many lives. We were in touch with her the night before and she sounded happy.

"There was no indication and no warning that she would do this. It was a complete shock. And it clearly wasn't her. There were personal demons she was battling."

Arons also claimed that while relatives of Kate had believed she had been suffering from bipolar disorder, this is something "Katy" had never discussed. In the abstract published by , Arons said: "She never shared with me that she was diagnosed with anything. I think it's stigma-related.

"And because she was private, she probably felt that even more so. She would just use the word sad." But while Kate's sister, Reta Saffo, had told the media she believed her sister had been living with bipolar disorder but other relatives, who have kept out of the spotlight, have disputed this.

Speaking to NBC News, a source claimed that the family had been "disgusted and saddened" by Reta's comments. Meanwhile, her brother, Earl Brosnahan, stated that Kate was the only person in their family to still speak to Reta, but only "sporadically". He branded the comments "grossly inaccurate."

Now, Arons, who co-founded the accessories and clothing line, Frances Valentine, alongside Kate, has announced a new tote bag in support of the Hope for Depression Research Foundation. She said: "I love the organisation because they are working on research and getting a diagnosis.

"I think bringing it to light is helpful instead of hiding it."

If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email or visit their site to find your local branch.

If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email