Fashion Focus: ESCADA

Escada is one of the world's luxury fashion labels. Escada is known for refined quality, workmanship, fit as well as elegance and glamour. The Escada name came from the founders who bet on the full-blooded Irish racing horse of the same name and won. 

Margeretha and Wolfgang Ley founded Escada in Germany, 1976 under the label "Escada Sportliche by SRB" but was shortened to Escada showcasing high-end knit sportswear. The "ESCADA" brand was introduced in 1978. Margaretha Ley was a former Swedish model with an educational background in tailoring and a feel for detail and bold color.

Embroideries, color contrasts, leather prints and patterns became Escada's signature look. Those fashion attributes were in line with the decadence of the 1980s. Escada expanded to the United States and Hong Kong market in the early 80s. Escada continued to expand until they were one of the largest companies worldwide. The most sought-after Italian and French textiles manufacturers and silk printing companies, weaving and spinning mills and printers were working for Escada making proprietary threads, fabrics and colors.

Escada went public in 1986. Lower-end line Laurel, bridge line Apriori, Escada Sport and Escada Eyewear and Escada Accessories were added to the brand in the 1990s to 2000. Escada granted licenses with numerous partners including Procter & Gamble. 

Fashion Channel Milano: "Escada" Spring Summer 1999 Paris 1 of 15

Escada presented their ad campaigns and catalogs with the world famous supermodels of the time, such as Claudia Schiffer, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Paulina Porizkova.

Margaretha was the primary designer for Escada until she died in 1992. After she passed, several people designed for Escada. In 2009, Escada filed for insolvency and was acquired by Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal.

Today, Escada's lifestyle brand maintains a modern, cool and feminine style and still dresses women for every occasion. The two collections, ESCADA and ESCADA SPORT, include a complete lifestyle concept from leisure to business, daywear to evening wear. Shoes, bags, jewelry, home textiles, eyewear and fragrances round out the product line. The ESCADA Group operates in 24 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Australia and Asia and present in 80 countries worldwide.

Escada Fall 2014 Collection

Shop Le Thrift Consignment Boutique online or in-store for Escada clothes, shoes and accessories.

Escada Black Wool Dress

Escada Paisley Vintage Tote Handbag

Escada Black Silk Ruffle Blouse

Escada by Margaretha Ley - Olive Green Silk Blouse

Sources:
Vintage Fashion Guild
Escada Website 

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