Marghab Business Records

Vera Way Marghab was the co-founder and president of Emile Marghab Inc., New York, and Marghab, Ltd., Madeira—renowned producers of fine linens. Born on August 21, 1900, in Wesley, Iowa, to Stitzel X. Way and Kathryn Bacon Way, Vera became a visionary in the world of luxury textiles.

In 1934, she and her husband, Emile Marghab, established their business, which specialized in exquisite embroidered linens crafted by skilled artisans in Madeira. Their products were sold exclusively in prestigious shops worldwide. Following Emile’s passing in 1947, Vera managed the company independently until political changes in Madeira forced its closure in 1984. Shortly after, she returned to Watertown, South Dakota, where she expanded her childhood home, "Wayland," on Lake Kampeska and settled into the community.

Emile Marghab, originally Emile Mogabgab, was a British subject from Cyprus. In 1921, he began managing the L. Tweel Importing Co. House, an importer of hand-embroidered textiles in Funchal, Madeira. Later, he joined F. M. Jabara and Bros., another embroidery firm, before co-founding Farra and Mogabgab Ltd. with Gabriel Farra. By 1930, Emile and Farra leased a factory from Jabara and operated independently, securing buyers in England and New York.

After marrying Vera in 1931, Emile changed his surname at her insistence. Vera quickly became involved in the business, bringing fresh ideas for management and production. When Farra sold his stake in 1933, Vera became Emile’s partner, and the couple undertook significant improvements to the company.

Renaming the business Marghab Ltd., Vera and Emile sought to elevate their products' quality. They sourced the finest linen from Irish weavers and collaborated with Swiss weavers to develop Margandie, a fabric made from premium Egyptian cotton.

Vera played a crucial role in design, ensuring that Madeira embroiderers adhered to her exacting standards. Unlike other companies, Marghab Ltd. maintained a permanent collection of designs, a revolutionary concept in the linen industry. This commitment to consistency and quality set the brand apart.

In 1934, Vera and Emile launched a U.S. branch, Emile Marghab Inc., in New York City, focusing on exclusive marketing strategies. Vera devised the Marghab Shops concept—dedicated spaces within select high-end department stores that adhered to strict display and layout guidelines. Each shop was managed by a personally trained expert under Vera’s direction.

Advertising was similarly controlled. Stores could only advertise Marghab products with Vera’s explicit approval, ensuring the brand’s elite status. This meticulous oversight preserved the linens' prestige and sustained business growth.

At its peak, the Marghab business was synonymous with luxury. However, after Emile’s passing in 1947, shifting consumer preferences and Vera’s rigid business practices led to a gradual decline. By the late 1970s, increasing demands from the Madeira embroidery guild (Gremio), coupled with political upheaval in Portugal and Madeira, made it difficult for Vera to continue operations. By 1984, both Marghab Ltd. and Emile Marghab Inc. had ceased operations.

Marghab linens, celebrated for their unparalleled craftsmanship, adorned palaces and embassies worldwide. Today, several designs remain part of the permanent collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. A complete collection—1,918 pieces spanning 282 designs—is preserved at the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota.

Vera Way Marghab’s legacy endures, a testament to her dedication to quality, innovation, and timeless elegance.