World of Escada

Quintessence of feminine luxury

Heritage

How it all began

In 1978, Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley presented their first collection under the name "ESCADA – Sporty Elegance." This event laid the foundation for a new business idea that was as simple as it was successful: the “democratization” of elite haute couture. ESCADA offered: top quality in fabrics, fit and workmanship at affordable prices; sophisticated, imaginative design and extremely comfortable wear; a coordinate system with individual components that were perfectly color-coordinated to allow mixing & matching through several seasons.

Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley - ESCADA founders
ESCADA was founded in Munich. The origin of the ESCADA name itself came from Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley, who bet on the full-blooded Irish racing horse of the same name and won.

Margaretha Ley, a former Swedish model, had a solid education in tailoring and ample experience with demanding customers. But she also had an exquisite feel for colors, a devotion to detail, and a sure sense for what many women desired – a feminine elegance that doesn't shy away from bright contrasts and striking elements. Bold color combinations, opulent embroideries, combinations of patterns, and leopard prints endowed ESCADA's early creations with a touch of irrepressible joie de vivre. This fashion style was exactly in tune with the extroverted spirit of the 1980s.

The first ESCADA perfume was introduced in 1990 and was named after its designer ESCADA Margaretha Ley. The bottle represented a unique and very feminine heart shape reflecting the feminine and sensual side of the fragrance.

In 1993, ESCADA introduced the first seasonal fragrance with a limited summer perfume called “Chiffon Sorbet”. It was inspired by the brand’s spring/summer fashion collection. In doing so, the brand pioneered the concept of seasonal limited editions and established what has become one of the most successful summer fragrance lines in the perfumery industry.

Escada Fragrance
The first ESCADA perfume was introduced in 1990 and was named after its designer ESCADA Margaretha Ley. The bottle represented a unique and very feminine heart shape reflecting the feminine and sensual side of the fragrance.
Escada entire fragrance collection
Escada entire fragrance collection.

Escada Today

Today ESCADA has interpreted its brand values in a new, updated way: cool glamour, sensual femininity and modern elegance are the hallmarks of the ESCADA brand line. ESCADA stands for fashion dressing women appropriately for every occasion. The brand offers a lifestyle concept filled with everything from must-have everyday items for business and leisure to red carpet occasions. The ESCADA woman is naturally drawn to the limelight and loves a feminine and glamorous yet fresh, modern style.

Every summer season ESCADA launches successfully a new limited summer perfume.

The signature perfumes of ESCADA are ESCADA MAGNETISM, a sophisticated and sensual scent, ESPECIALLY ESCADA, a flowery scent embodying happiness and elegance and ESCADA JOYFUL, launched in 2014, which is a luxurious and feminine scent that captures the beauty of a bouquet of flowers.