Fashion designer and journalist Edith d'Errecalde Hadamard (1905-2002) was a critic and lecturer at Parsons School of Design in 1969-1970. Born in Strasbourg, France, she studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris before immigrating to the United States in 1939. In the U.S., she worked briefly for Charles James, and in 1941 was hired by the celebrated designer, Mainbocher, who she assisted for eleven years. D'Errecalde was in charge of Mainbocher's workroom and directed many of the fittings. The Duchess of Windsor and actress Mary Martin were two of the firm's best known clients. D'Errecalde also created original designs under Mainbocher's name.

In 1951, d'Errecalde started her own sportswear company specializing in tweeds, incorporating as Maxmil two years later. Evan-Picone hired her in 1955 to develop skirt and blouse designs to supplement its line of pants. In 1959, she became fashion director for Cohama, a division of Cohn-Hall-Marx, one of the largest textile companies in the U.S. During her fifth year there, she revolutionized the world of sportswear by introducing clothing that made innovative use of stretch fabric. After leaving Cohama in 1974, d'Errecalde continued to work in fashion through the end of the decade, focusing on the creation of sweaters and dress patterns. She was also a journalist for GAP (Groupe Avant-Premiere), a French fashion journal in the 1970s.