Escada

Escada was founded in 1978 by Margaretha Ley, a former Dior model and trained seamstress, and her husband Wolfgang Ley in Munich, Germany. The brand name derives from a winning racehorse the couple wagered on during their honeymoon. Margaretha's background in haute couture craftsmanship combined with Wolfgang's business acumen created a luxury fashion house known for bold, color-saturated designs and intricate detailing that stood in stark contrast to the minimalist aesthetic dominating European runways in the late 1970s and 1980s. By the early 1990s, Escada had grown into a global powerhouse with over $800 million in annual sales, operating 140 boutiques worldwide including a six-story flagship on New York's 57th Street. The fragrance division launched in 1990 with Escada by Margaretha Ley, followed by successful releases including Escada Collection (1997), Sentiment (2000), Magnetism (2003), and Escada (2005). The brand became particularly renowned for its limited-edition summer fragrances released annually in packaging reflecting the latest couture designs. Fragrances were produced under licensing agreements with Procter & Gamble until 2015, when P&G sold its fragrance business to Coty, which continues to manage the Escada fragrance portfolio. Today, Escada fragrances are primarily distributed through duty-free and accessible retail channels, positioning the line as crowd-pleasing, accessibly priced perfumes rather than niche offerings.