Escada: Innovative & Forward Thinking
By: Boyd Davis
(Photo below: Brian Rennie (left) at the Escada store, Fall 2004 show. Photo courtesy of Escada.)

Escada was founded by Wolfgang and Margarethe Ley in 1976. It garnered world fame from its Crisca line which was introduced in 1984.

In 1990, leather goods lines and in 1991 the Apriori bridge line were introduced. Around the same time, Escada fragrance and Escada by Margarethe Ley were introduced in the U.S(1990) and in Germany and the UK (1991).

Since its founding until her death in 1992, Margarethe Ley was the chief designer of the German fashion house. She strongly believed and adhered in the philosophy that a designer must not solely rely on creativity to succeed. She believed that a designer must also have strong market appeal.

Ley created the identity for Escada – clean, slick and sophisticated. She was also the catalyst in the development of innovative fabric and color combinations in both garments and leather lines.

After Margarethe Ley’s death 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.

Currently (2002), Brian Rennie is the Design Director for Escada. He continues Margarethe Ley's vision and adds his own interpretation for the Escada look.

Escada believes in the use of technology in creating fashion. Computer Assisted Design for pattern-making, automated cutters and state of the art equipment for sewing and knitting are used as time-conserving devices in the tedious side of the rag trade. The computers give Escada’s Design Team more time to be creative!

A powerhouse of both creativity and the use of high-technology, Escada continue to be innovative while keeping its strong market appeal – Margarethe Ley’s dream come true.

Fall 2003 (Photo courtesy of Escada)

Spring 2003 Couture (Photo courtesy of Escada)

Website:www.escada.com

Address:
ESCADA AG (Headquarters)
Margaretha-Ley-Ring 1
D-85609 Aschheim bei München
Germany

Contact:
U.S. Buyers:
ESCADA USA
1412 Broadway
New York, New York 10018
Tel: (212) 852-5529
Fax: (212) 852-5583

U.S. Press:
ESCADA USA
1412 Broadway
New York, New York 10018
Tel: (212) 852-5529
Fax: (212) 852-5583

Wolfwang Ley (left) at the Escada Fall 2004 presentation