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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

In 1984, José María Castellano, a computer specialist, was appointed as the general manager of Zara by Amancio Ortega.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.