Escada
Munich, 1978 — bold colour, print and silk, cut with real construction.
Escada was founded in Munich in 1978 by Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley. Margaretha, a former model trained in tailoring, gave the house its signature of bold colour, elaborate print, and vivid silk, cut with real construction underneath. Its most collected vintage pieces — printed silk blouses and separates from the 1980s and 1990s — capture a confident era of womenswear.
Munich, 1978.
Escada was founded in Munich in 1978 by Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley. Margaretha, a former model with training in tailoring, gave the house its signature: bold colour, print and detail, cut with real construction underneath.
The label became known for vivid printed silk blouses and separates — statement pieces that still read unmistakably as Escada in vintage.
The marks of the house.
- 01Colour & printA house built on bold colour and elaborate print — the opposite of quiet, and proud of it.
- 02Printed silkBest known in vintage for vivid silk blouses and separates.
- 03Construction underneathMargaretha Ley’s tailoring background shows in the make beneath the pattern.
- 041980s–90s statementIts most collected pieces capture a specific, confident era of womenswear.
"Some houses whisper. Escada was built to be seen — and its silk still is."— Anemoia Vestiaire, on Escada
Silk, colour and make.
Escada lives in printed silk. Our silk note explains how to read silk quality — the substance beneath the pattern — and the wider library covers the rest.
Why vintage Escada
is collected.
Escada’s vivid printed silks from the 1980s and 1990s are increasingly sought after — they mark a specific, confident moment in womenswear, and genuine examples have grown scarcer as they have been worn and collected. Vintage is the way to own that era.
Escada in the archive.
About Escada.
Who founded Escada?
Escada was founded in Munich in 1978 by Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley. Margaretha, a former model with training in tailoring, gave the house its defining signature of bold colour, print, and detail, backed by real construction underneath the pattern.
What is Escada known for?
Escada is known for bold colour and elaborate print — the opposite of quiet luxury, and proud of it — with its vintage pieces especially recognized for vivid printed silk blouses and separates from the 1980s and 1990s.
Why is vintage Escada collected today?
Escada's vivid printed silks from the 1980s and 1990s mark a specific, confident moment in womenswear, and genuine examples have grown scarcer as they've been worn and collected over the decades. Vintage remains the most reliable way to own pieces from that defining era.
What should I check when buying vintage Escada?
Look at the cloth, the print, and the honest condition of the garment, checking exactly what the labels show. A reputable seller describes what's actually present rather than certifying or dating a piece beyond what it can support.