Information On Escada

Escada was established by Wolfgang and Margarethe Ley in 1976. Since its founding until her death in 1992, Margarethe Ley was the person in charge of design of the German fashion house. Margarethe Ley strongly believed and adhered in the philosophy that a designer must not only rely on creativity to succeed. Margarethe Ley believed that a designer must as well have strong market appeal. Margarethe Ley created the identity for Escada which is clean, slick and sophisticated.

In 1976 Margaretha Ley began as an upscale sportswear designer named Escada Sportliche Eleganz by SRB, however was shortened to Escada the following year.

By 1980 Escada was well known as the leading designer in luxury sportswear. Noted for its quality materials, Escada effectively widened its clientele and by 1981 established a name in many categories of womenwear, focusing in formal wear and knitwear. In 1982, Escada opened their first store in the United States on Fifth Avenue in New York City and opened its first store in Asia the following year in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong boutique became a worldwide landmark, marked for its use of gold in the store's design. The entrance to the Hong Kong flagship boutique was gold-framed.

Although debuting in America in 1982, Escada did not gain national fame until 1984 when the leading fashion and women's wear magazine Vogue published an whole edition devoted to promoting Escada. Its worldwide reputation led its 1986 IPO on the FSE to be highly anticipated and Escada's debut on the stock exchange marked the headlines in hundreds of major newspapers worldwide.

After the death of Margarethe Ley in 1992, Michael Stolzenburg was named to succeed her. Stolzenburg brought with him a youthful and more modern perspective for the Escada lines. He balances fresh new ideas with classic design elements.

By the way people often wonder whether there is some mysterious abbreviation behind the name Escada. The reality is more exciting. Escada was the name of an Irish thoroughbred.