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Last Updated:
2024-04-07 12:48:50

Zara

Spanish clothing retailer
Spanish clothing retailer

Zara may refer to a variety of topics and entities, including a fashion retailer, a given name, a village in Estonia, and a river in Poland.

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1936
Amancio Ortega Founding Zara

Amancio Ortega, the founder of Zara and the wealthiest person in Spain, established the retail giant Inditex, which owns Zara, the world's largest fashion retailer.

1963
Ortega establishes a dress making factory under the name of Inditex

In 1963, Amancio Ortega established a dress making factory under the name of Inditex, which later paved the way for the foundation of Zara. This marked the beginning of Ortega's journey in the retail market.

1974
Founding of Zara by Amancio Ortega Gaona

Zara was founded in 1974 by Spanish entrepreneur Amancio Ortega Gaona in La Coruña, Spain. The brand's philosophy focused on speed and efficiency, with a rapid response to changing fashion trends.

1975
Introduction of 'Quick Fashion' by Zara

Zara introduced the notion of 'quick fashion' shopping since its founding in 1975 in Spain. This approach has been a key factor in Zara's success as a worldwide fashion giant.

1975-08-07
Zara Founded by Amancio Ortega and Rosalía Mera

Zara was founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega and Rosalía Mera in A Coruña, Spain. The first store offered low-priced, trendy clothing and fashion lookalike items.

1976
Establishment of GOASAM as the owner of Zara

In 1976, GOASAM was established as the owner of Zara, leading to the expansion of Zara's establishments throughout Spain.

1980
Zara sets up its own factory in La Coruña

Zara established its own factory in La Coruña, a city known for its textile industry, in 1980. This move allowed Zara to have more control over its production process.

1983
Expansion of Zara in Spain

Within eight years of its establishment, Zara's business strategy and fashion approach became popular among Spanish consumers, leading to the opening of nine new locations in Spain's major cities.

1984
Castellano becomes managing director of Zara

In 1984, Castellano took on the role of managing director at Zara.

1985
Expansion of Zara

Zara, a brand owned by the Inditex Group, started expanding internationally and grew to have approximately 2,220 locations in 88 countries.

1988
Zara's Global Expansion

Zara quickly expanded into the international market after opening its first foreign store in Porto, Portugal in 1988. Today, Zara has thousands of stores in over 90 countries.

1990
Shoe collection for children introduced

In 1990, Zara introduced a shoe collection specifically for children.

1991
Foundation of Pull & Bear and Acquisition of Massimo Dutti

Ortega establishes Pull & Bear, a brand specializing in casual men's clothing, and Inditex acquires a 65% stake in Massimo Dutti, later increasing it to 100% in 1996.

1993
Foundation of Lefties

Inditex establishes Lefties, a company selling Zara clothes, with stores opening in various countries including Mexico, Greece, Belgium, Sweden, Malta, Cyprus, Norway, and Israel in subsequent years.

1995
Massimo Dutti acquired

Massimo Dutti is a high-end clothing and accessories brand for cosmopolitan men and women. It was acquired by Inditex in 1995 and operates in 186 markets, with 74 of them having physical stores.

1998
Introduction of 'fast fashion' concept by Zara

Zara played a significant role in introducing the concept of 'fast fashion' to the world. This approach revolutionized the fashion industry by reducing lead times, reacting quickly to new trends, and democratizing luxury products.

1999
Stradivarius acquired

Stradivarius is a brand under the Inditex portfolio that offers casual and feminine clothes for young women. It was acquired in 1999 and operates in 180 markets, with 67 of them having physical stores.

2001
Oysho founded

Oysho is a brand under the Inditex portfolio that specializes in lingerie, casual outerwear, lounge wear, and original accessories. It was founded in 2001 and operates in 176 markets, with 58 of them having physical stores.

2002
Zara opens first stores in Japan and Singapore

In 2002, Zara expanded its presence by opening its first stores in Japan and Singapore. This marked a milestone in the company's global expansion strategy.

2003
Establishment of Zara Home

Zara Home, a company under the Spanish Inditex group, specializing in home textiles, was founded in 2003. It has expanded to operate in 44 countries with around 408 stores.

2005-08-07
Ortega Passes Chairman Title to Pablo Isla

In 2005, Amancio Ortega passed the Chairman title of Zara to Pablo Isla. Analysts predict that Marta Ortega, his daughter, may succeed him in the future.

2006
Zara's Strong Expansion and Record Sales

In 2006, Zara experiences significant growth with the opening of over 200 stores, making it the company's most profitable brand. Inditex, Zara's parent company, receives the Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Award for its successful use of technology in the manufacturing process.

2007
Launch of Inditex Group's First Online Store

Zara Home, a part of the Inditex Group, introduces the company's first online store in 2007. Additionally, new logistics centers are opened in Madrid and León.

2008
Uterqüe founded

Uterqüe is a brand under the Inditex portfolio that offers high-quality fashion accessories at attractive prices. It was founded in 2008 and operates in 158 markets, with 17 of them having physical stores.

2010-10-04
Zara Online launched in India

In October 4, 2010, Zara extended its online service to India, allowing customers to purchase its products online. This move marked a significant strategic importance for the company.

2012
Zara Reaches 6,000 Stores Milestone

In 2012, Zara achieved a significant milestone by reaching a total of 6,000 stores worldwide.

2014-08
Zara Concentration Camp-Inspired T-shirt Criticism

In August 2014, Zara faced criticism for selling a toddler T-shirt resembling uniforms worn by Jewish concentration camp inmates. The design featured a yellow star similar to the Star of David, leading to backlash and eventual removal of the product.

2015
Global Launch of Pink Scarves

In 2015, Zara globally launched pink scarves after receiving customer requests from various locations around the world. The scarves were quickly stocked in over 2,000 stores and sold out within 3 days.

2016-08-07
BBC Reports Child Labor Issues in Zara Factories

In 2016, BBC News reported evidence of child labor in Zara factories in Turkey. Zara responded by giving the factory six months to address the issues.

2017-11
Unpaid Wages Issue in Zara Stores, Istanbul

In November 2017, Zara faced criticism for unpaid wages in Istanbul stores. The company clarified that the issue stemmed from a third-party manufacturer and pledged to compensate affected employees.

2018-01
Zara criticized by Shanghai's internet authority

In January 2018, Zara faced criticism from Shanghai's internet authority for listing Taiwan as a country. The company was chastised and ordered to rectify the situation immediately.

2018-03
Zara's online launch in Australia and New Zealand

In March 2018, Zara expanded its online presence to Australia and New Zealand, further increasing its global reach.

2018-04
MaXhosa by Laduma takes legal action against Zara

In April 2018, MaXhosa by Laduma initiated legal action against Zara for copying its designs. Zara responded by removing socks that resembled the designer's artistic style.

2018-06
Controversy over Zara jacket worn by Melania Trump

In June 2018, a Zara jacket with the phrase 'I really don't care, do U?' worn by Melania Trump during a visit to a detention center sparked controversy. The jacket's message was seen as insensitive given the context of the visit.

2019-12-23
Number of Zara Home Stores

As of December 23, 2019, Zara Home had around 408 stores operating in 44 countries. The company focuses on retailing various housewares.

2020
Impact of COVID-19 on Zara's business

The COVID-19 crisis in 2020 significantly affected Zara's offline sales, leading to store closures and a focus on online sales growth to offset losses.

2021-06
Zara faces backlash over anti-Palestinian comments

In June 2021, Zara's women's head fashion designer Vanessa Perilman made anti-Palestinian comments, leading to calls for a boycott. The company faced criticism for its delayed response and decision not to fire Perilman.

End of the Timeline
Zara

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Zara

Spanish clothing retailer
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