Escada

Escada was launched in 1976 as a racehorse, fashion house and fragrance pioneer by Wolfgang Ley and his wife, Margaretha. The two met while skiing in St. Moritz. Later, while visiting Portugal, Wolfgang and Margaretha placed a wager on a horse named Escada, which means 'staircase' in Portuguese. In 1984, Escada received a major boost when Vogue magazine featured a 16-page spread on the company's apparel line. Margarethe Ley was the chief designer for the group until her death in 1992 at age 59. They are considered to be one of the leading international luxury women's fashion brands. With global distribution in 64 countries, they have built its worldwide reputation on its expert tailoring, use of luxurious fabrics, color and attention to detail. Escada produces two seasonal collections for its ready-to-wear divisions: Escada, Escada Couture, and Escada Sport, along with Escada Accessories, Escada Eyewear, and Escada fragrances. The collections are available in nearly 500 locations in 60 countries. In the U.S., the company has 16 boutiques in Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Washington.

The company is noted for its unique perfumes and colognes. In 1993, they unveiled Escada Pour Homme the men's counterpart to the company's classic perfume for women. They launched its first 'lifestyle perfume' for the Escada Sport Line in 1995. The line includes three distinct fragrances: Feeling Free, Sports Spirit and Country Weekend. In addition to its collection of perfumes and colognes, They offer casual and dress apparel, as well as a full line of accessories. Other scents include Casual Friday cologne for men, and Loving Bouquet, Lily Chic, and Tropical Punch perfumes for women.