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Taraji P. Henson and Marsai Martin are reuniting in a new Kate Spade New York campaign to spread awareness of women’s mental health initiatives.
The Oscar-winning star and the 20-year-old Genius Entertainment founder are joined by Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan in the colorful fashion brand’s fall campaign, which introduces a new floral jacquard print and the brand’s new Global Fund for Women’s Mental Health in partnership with Pinterest, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Mindful Philanthropy. The fund will “provide greater access to community-led, culturally competent mental health solutions for women at every stage of their lives,” per the company.
Sporting soon-to-launch pieces from Kate Spade’s fall collection, the starry trio reminds viewers of the importance of speaking up about women’s mental health. “Tending to our mental health is undiscussed, underfunded,” says Martin, as Coughlan finishes, “and unsaid for far too long.”
“There are too many humans on this planet for you to be the only one,” continues Henson, who recently caught up with The Hollywood Reporter over Zoom to chat about her second partnership with Kate Spade New York. (Last September, she teamed with the brand through her nonprofit, the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, in the “Joy Joints!” initiative.)
“I don’t just slap my name on anything because there’s a check involved. It has to make sense to me. It has to mean something. It has to fall under my brand and my umbrella. And Kate Spade is perfect. It’s fashion that cares,” Henson tells THR.
Adds Martin, “When considering partnerships with any brand, I always look for a meaningful alignment of values. It’s not just about the aesthetics — I want to work with brands that have a deeper purpose and are genuinely invested in making a positive impact. Kate spade isn’t just a brand, they invest in finding solutions where more women and girls have access to mental health to find their own definition of joy.”
On Thursday, the Fight Night star joined Martin, Olympic superstar Simone Biles, Brother Vellies designer Aurora James, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series actress Sofia Wylie, and costume designer Molly Rogers as speakers at Kate Spade New York’s third annual Global Summit on Women’s Mental Health ahead of New York Fashion Week. (Kate Spade has invested over $31 million in social impact initiatives, per the company.)
Henson and Martin spoke with THR about why teaming with the New York-based label made sense, their favorites from the brand’s new collection, their latest projects (the new Peacock original series, Fight Night, for Henson; and the animated show, Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy for Martin out Sept. 13 on Disney+) and what’s to come from Genius Entertainment, the production company that Martin founded at 14.
What made you excited to say yes to working with Kate Spade? What criteria do you usually look for when you decide to partner with any brand or organization?
TARAJI P. HENSON It just makes sense. Everything under my umbrella is about self-care, mental wellness, and that has been Kate Spade’s messaging for some time, and that’s what brought us together kismetically. It wasn’t forced. We found each other because we believe in the same values and empowerment of women, and it just makes sense. I don’t just slap my name on anything because there’s a check involved. It has to make sense to me. It has to mean something. It has to fall under my brand and my umbrella. And Kate Spade is perfect. It’s fashion that cares.
MARSAI MARTIN I’ve admired kate spade for years! I have nostalgic memories of the brand from my childhood. My mom and grandma were always big fans, and I vividly recall receiving my first kate spade clutch when I was 12 — a moment that has stuck with me ever since. There’s a joyfulness to the brand that just emanates through all their work and it made this partnership feel like a natural fit.
When considering partnerships with any brand, I always look for a meaningful alignment of values. It’s not just about the aesthetics — I want to work with brands that have a deeper purpose and are genuinely invested in making a positive impact. Kate spade isn’t just a brand, they invest in finding solutions where more women and girls have access to mental health to find their own definition of joy.
Spade Flower Jacquard Nouveau Small Shoulder Bag
Why was it important to be involved in this campaign for mental health awareness?
HENSON Well, just in general, the way Kate Spade and me and Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation came to be, to know each other is just sheer kismet. Literally, it was meant to be. And we have the same values. It is just a no brainer. And whenever you find an energy that you work well together with, there’s never any kinks with us because we’re on the same mission, and that’s to empower women and to have women slow down and take care of themselves and take care of their mental health. And so it just makes sense for us. It’s a no brainer for us.
MARTIN Being involved in this mental health awareness campaign was really important to me because I’ve always been drawn to doing things with purpose, which completely aligns with the ideals of katespade New York. Working on this campaign with Taraji and Nicola reminded me just how important it is to tend to yourself, to seek your joy, and to find the resources that ground you every day. The brand has built such a beautiful community around the idea that joy has a deeper meaning and looks different for everyone, and that’s something I truly connect with.
The video campaign looks so joyful! What was the vibe on set?
HENSON Oh, it was a lot of fun. I’m a girl’s girl, and whenever a girl’s girl meets another girl’s girl, it’s fun. We do what girls do, we laugh. We talk about fashion and clothes and boys and stuff. And so we had a good time. We caught up. I had never met Nicola before, but she’s a charming young woman, and I will say that they are both very inspirational because they have a certain business sense about themselves at such a young age in the game, and that is very inspirational.
MARTIN The vibe on set was amazing! I’m a huge fan of Bridgerton, so it was amazing to work with Nicola, especially just watching her season. I’ve also worked with Taraji in the early days of Black-ish, so getting to reunite on such an amazing campaign was truly special. We were just laughing and having a good time, which I think really came through in the campaign. It felt like we were just a group of friends – a community – coming together, lifting each other up, and sharing the excitement of being a part of a campaign that has such a meaningful purpose.
What are your favorite Kate Space New York pieces for fall? How would you describe your style right now?
HENSON My favorite right now is this little slip-on mule with a rose on it, and then there’s this fuchsia leather skirt. And my [striped] Beetlejuice top — Kate Spade did not make this in honor of Beetlejuice, but now we have now made this the Beetlejuice top! I’m sure Kate Spade, they had no idea Beetlejuice was coming back.
MARTIN My style this fall is going to be elevated and functional. The Fall Poppies Taffeta Dress is the perfect piece to style for a cute work outfit that you can also take into a night out. No outfit is complete without accessories and I like mixing playful and modern with vintage made new. For shoes, my go-to K as in Kate Lace Up Sneaker in Brown Multi (launching in October) brings fun to my outfits with the animal print and of course for handbags, I’m not putting my Spade Flower Jacquard Shoulder Bag (in Black Multi, arriving in October) down! I love that Kate Spade reimagined the classic print with modern silhouettes.
