1923 ONE DAY, TWO PROMISES
On September 27, 1923, Edgar and Theresa Hyman were married. On that very day, they also launched a family business called Echo Scarfs, using the acronym of Edgar’s initials – Edgar C. Hyman Co.
By 1929, Echo had established itself successfully in the marketplace, enabling the company to survive the Great Depression.
1930s A LEADER EMERGES
The Echo brand began our long, iconic journey after Theresa Hyman requested the logo be printed on every scarf design. This was to distinguish Echo products from the competition and ensure everyone, from production to purchase, that each scarf was created with the utmost quality and care. Throughout the decade, the pioneering Echo was also one of the earliest scarf companies to begin importing fabrics from abroad.
1940s DOING OUR PART
During the upheaval years of WWII, Echo was the most prominent and prolific manufacturer of women’s patriotic scarfs. Echo also created many instructional propaganda scarfs that contained printed messages from how to react in an air raid, to what to do during a blackout. The rayon ‘Rationing’ scarf even addressed the country’s feelings about sacrificing for the greater good.
1950s A TRANSATLANTIC TRIBUTE
In 1956, Paul Roberts, Edgar C. Hyman’s son-in-law, was tasked with transporting Echo’s fall line from the Italian factories back to New York. His choice was the Andrea Doria. On July 27th, the ill-fated ship collided with another vessel near Nantucket and sank, taking with it the entire Echo line. As a true testament to Echo, the manufacturers kept the factories open during what would normally be a summer holiday and reproduced the entire fall collection.
1960s SHAPING THE 20TH CENTURY
The 60s were big, bold, and bright. Designs were changing as fast as society. Long scarves called Lankies were tied around the waist or draped around the neck. Status scarfs were tied on handbags and on the head. And Echo was there every step of the way, ushering in our version of popular geometrics, florals and paisleys in eye-catching psychedelic colors.
1970s A NEW ERA
The 70s brought big changes for Echo. The company introduced its memorable ‘The Echo of an Interesting Woman’ campaign. Created by legendary adman Peter Rogers, Echo was identified by this advertising for years and still by many today.
Echo launched a custom design division after creating a commemorative World’s Fair scarf for the Smithsonian Institution. Since then, Echo has been designing custom accessories and works of art for some of the most prestigious names in the corporate, retail and museum worlds. Some of our clients include Coach, Brooks Brothers, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and MoMA.
1980s A DECADE OF GROWTH
In 1978, Dorothy Hyman Roberts, daughter of the founders, became President of Echo. Under Dorothy’s leadership, the company experienced unprecedented growth over the course of the new decade.
A partnership was forged with Polo/Ralph Lauren in 1984 and Echo became the sole scarf licensee for all brands. Eventually, the partnership evolved to include cold weather accessories for both men and women.
1990s INTO THE HOME
Echo launched our home division in 1992 with fresh and exciting designs in wallcoverings and fabrics. Bedding, bath accessories and tabletop categories were added over the next several years as the division grew in popularity.
Steven and Meg Roberts, son and daughter-in-law of Dorothy, published the first of three interior design books, ‘A Home for All Seasons’ in 1998. ‘Time at Home’ followed in 2001 and ‘Color at Home’ in 2008.
2000s BEACHES & BYTES
The new century brought new ideas. In 2007, Echo introduced our first beach collection featuring cover-ups and beach bags. Three years later, swimwear was added at the request of customers and retailers alike.
With the explosion of technology, we launched Echo Touch – the company’s breakthrough touchscreen compatible gloves in a broad range of fashion colors. Today, every glove in every material, from wool to cashmere to leather, works with the devices we cannot live without.
2010s BACK TO THE FUTURE
In 2015, Echo decided to bring back the original 1923 logo script and make it the centerpiece of our new identity. In addition to celebrating our 95 year heritage, the new identity introduced “Dot” – the zebra who has changed her stripes. With a nod to Echo’s tradition of print and pattern as well as our “never take yourself too seriously attitude”, Dot and our new logo will take us forward into the next 95 years.
2019 A BRAND REIMAGINED
Creating a distinctly modern spin on its iconic “Echo of an Interesting Woman” campaign from the 1970s, Echo celebrates women who are making a difference in the world around them - today’s visionaries, trendsetters and trailblazers who ignite our creativity and inspire us. The campaign tells their stories across social media.