Zara (retailer)
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Zara (Template:IPAc-en; Template:IPA) is a fast fashion retail subsidiary of the Spanish multinational fashion design, manufacturing, and retailing group Inditex.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Zara sells clothing, accessories, beauty products and perfumes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The head office is located at Arteixo in the province of A Coruña, Spain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2020 alone, it launched over twenty new product lines.<ref name=":22">Template:Cite news</ref>
History
Early history
Zara was established by Amancio Ortega Gaona and Rosalía Mera Goyenechea in 1975. Their first shop was in central A Coruña, in Galicia, Spain, where the company is still based. They initially called it 'Zorba' after the classic 1964 film Zorba the Greek, but after learning there was a bar with the same name two blocks away, rearranged the letters to read 'Zara'. It is believed the extra 'a' came from an additional set of letters that had been made for the company.<ref name=ny>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>How Zara became the world's biggest fashion retailer. Graham Ruddick. 20 October 2015. Telegraph. accessed 5 April 2016.</ref> It sold low-priced lookalike products of popular, higher-end clothing fashions. They subsequently opened more shops in Spain. During the 1980s, Zara changed the design, manufacturing, and distribution process to reduce lead times and react more quickly to new trends using information technology and groups of designers rather than individuals.Template:Citation needed
Expansion
The first shop outside Spain was opened in 1988 in Porto, Portugal.<ref>Template:Cite web Archived 22 July 2015.</ref> In 1989, the company entered the United States, and then France in 1990.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During the 1990s, Zara expanded to Mexico (1992),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Greece, Belgium, Sweden (1993) and Israel (1997).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the 2000s, Zara opened its first stores in Brazil (1999); Japan and Singapore (2002); Ireland, Venezuela, Russia and Malaysia (2003);<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="book" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> China,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Morocco,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Estonia,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hungary<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Romania (2004);<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Philippines,<ref name="book">Template:Cite book</ref> Costa Rica<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Indonesia (2005);<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Colombia (2007);<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and South Korea (2008).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the 2010s, Zara began to roll out locations in India (2010);<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Taiwan, South Africa and Australia (2011);<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Peru (2012).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In September 2010, Zara launched its online boutique. The website began in Jordan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In November of the same year, Zara Online extended its service to five more countries: Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.<ref name="fashionmag">Template:Cite web</ref> Online stores began operating in the United States in 2011,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Russia and Canada in 2013,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> Mexico in 2014,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> South Korea in 2014,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Romania in 2016,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> India in 2017, Israel and Brazil in 2019,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Peru in 2020.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
In 2015, Zara was ranked #30 on Interbrand's list of best global brands.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2019, Zara updated their logo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was designed by the French agency Baron & Baron.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The global fashion business Journal MDS stated that while the textile commerce of the world had gone down by 2.38%, Zara's had risen 2.17%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Chief Executive Persson said the brand is waiting for more acceptable global rent levels to continue its expansion. In Europe, the brand planned to cut the number of retail locations beginning in 2020.<ref name="fortune"/>
In 2021, Zara left Venezuela by the economic struggles in the country.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
As of January 2023, the clothing retailer has nearly 3000 stores, including its kids and home stores. Spanning over 96 countries and continuing to grow.<ref name="fortune">Template:Cite web</ref> In April 2023, Zara left Russia by selling the business to Fashion and More Management DVCC. The brand changed its name to Maag.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Corporate affairs
The key trends for Zara (including Zara Home) are as at the financial year ending 31 January:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| RevenueTemplate:Efn (€ bn) |
Profit before taxes (€ bn) |
Total assets (€ bn) |
Number of stores |
Share of stores franchised (%) |
References | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 15.4 | 2.7 | 15.0 | 2,213 | 13 | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2017 | 16.7 | 3.0 | 16.0 | 2,251 | 12 | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2018 | 18.1 | 3.1 | 17.3 | 2,862 | 13 | |
| 2019 | 19.6 | 3.3 | 22.7 | 2,866 | 13 | |
| 2020 | 14.2 | 0.96 | 21.3 | 2,653 | 12 | |
| 2021 | 19.7 | 2.8 | 23.6 | 2,489 | 12 | |
| 2022 | 23.9 | 4.0 | 24.8 | 2,312 | 13 | |
| 2023 | 26.2 | 4.9 | 27.0 | 2,221 | 13 | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Visual identity
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Zara logo from 1975 to 1980. -
Zara logo from 1980 to 2008. -
Zara logo from 2008 to 2019. -
Current logo since 2019.
Products
Zara stores have men's and women's clothing as well as children's clothing (Zara Kids). Zara Home designs are located in European stores. The majority of Zara customers are aged between 18 and about 35. After products are designed, they take 10 to 15 days to reach the stores.<ref>The Future of Fashion Retailing: The Zara Approach 25 October 2012. Greg Petro. Forbes. accessed 5 April 2016</ref> All of the clothing is processed through the distribution center in Spain. New items are inspected, sorted, tagged, and loaded into trucks. In most cases, the clothing is delivered within 48 hours. Zara produces over 450 million items per year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Zara also includes accessories, shoes, swimwear, beauty and perfumes.
In May 2021, Zara launched its first beauty line, ZARA Beauty.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Under its Zara Home line, Zara launched what is believed to be the first detergent that reduces the abrasion of textile microfibres during washing. It is claimed the solution, jointly developed by Inditex and BASF Home Care and I&I Solutions Europe in Spain and Germany, can reduce the release of microfibres by up to 80 per cent, depending on fabric type and washing conditions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Manufacturing and distribution
Reportedly, Zara needs just one week to develop a new product and get it to stores, compared to the six-month industry average, and makes roughly 40,000 designs of which around 12,000 new designs are selected and produced each year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Zara has a policy of zero advertising;<ref name=ny/> the company preferred to invest a percentage of revenues in opening new stores instead.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Zara set up its own factory in La Coruña (a city known for its textile industry) in 1980 and upgraded to reverse milk-run-type production and distribution facilities in 1990. This approach, designed by Toyota Motor Corp., was called the just-in-time (JIT) system.<ref name="GRIN Verlag">Template:Cite book</ref> It enabled the company to establish a business model that allows self-containment throughout the stages of materials, manufacture, product completion, and distribution to stores worldwide within just a few days.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="GRIN Verlag"/>
Most of the products Zara sells are manufactured in Spain, Portugal, China, Turkey, Morocco, Bangladesh <ref name=ny/><ref>The 5 ingredients of Zara's success. Bibby Sowray. 11 December 2015. Telegraph. accessed 5 April 2016</ref> and more recently - Armenia. While some competitors outsource all production to Asia, Zara manufactures its most fashionable items – half of all its merchandise – at a dozen company-owned factories in Spain (particularly in Galicia), Portugal (northern part) and Turkey. Clothes with a longer shelf life, such as basic T-shirts, are outsourced to low-cost suppliers, mainly in Asia.<ref>Fashion Conquistador Businessweek</ref>
The company can design a new product and have finished goods in its stores in four to five weeks; it can modify existing items in as little as two weeks, which results from its advanced operation management.<ref name="GRIN Verlag"/> Shortening the product life cycle means greater success in meeting consumer preferences.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> If a design does not sell well within a week, it is withdrawn from shops, further orders are canceled and a new design is pursued. Zara monitors customers' fashion changes.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Zara has a range of basic designs that are carried over from year to year, but some fashion-forward designs can stay on the shelves less than four weeks, which encourages Zara fans to make repeat visits. An average high-street store in Spain expects customers to visit three times a year. That goes up to 17 times for Zara.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
As a result of increasing competitive pressures from the online shopping market, Zara is shifting its focus onto online as well, and will consequently open fewer but larger stores in the future.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In May 2022, a £1.95 return fee was implemented for some online orders in Britain and other core markets.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This fee was introduced in Spain as of February 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In November 2022, a pre-owned platform will also be launched via its website and app in UK. Other than posting now-unwanted Zara purchases online for sale, shoppers can book repairs and donate unwanted items online or via a store. If successful, this service will be expanded to other key markets.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Starting November 2022, Russians will be able to order products online from a range U.S. and European brands, including Nike, Zara and H&M, according to an announcement from Russia's postal service.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In October 2024, Zara expanded its secondhand clothing platform, Zara Pre-Owned, to the U.S. The service, which allows customers to sell, donate, or repair pre-owned items, can be accessed across their app, website, and stores.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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The men's department of a typical Zara store. Almere, Netherlands -
Zara clothing made in Portugal
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Zara store in New York City, near One World Trade Center
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Zara store in Columbus, Ohio
Non-toxic clothing
In 2010, Greenpeace started a dialog with Zara to ban toxics from the clothing production.<ref name="toxic-free"/> Greenpeace published its "Toxic threads: the big fashion stitch-up" report in November 2012 as part of its Detox Campaign identifying companies that use toxic substances in their manufacturing processes.<ref name="report">Template:Cite web</ref> Nine days after the report was published, Zara committed to eradicating all releases of hazardous chemicals throughout its entire supply chain and products by 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Zara became the biggest retailer in the world to raise awareness for the Detox Campaign,<ref name="morgen">Template:Cite web</ref> and switched to a fully toxic-free production.<ref name="toxic-free">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Update after
Controversies
Alleged antisemitic imagery
In 2007, Zara withdrew a handbag from its shelves after a customer noticed a swastika on the bag's design. The bag came from an external supplier, and Zara claimed the symbol was not visible when the handbag was chosen. Zara withdrew the product from stores, and spokesperson Susan Suett said, the bag would not have been sourced had the symbol been apparent.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In August 2014, Zara received criticism for selling a toddler T-shirt for closely resembling uniforms worn by Jewish concentration camp inmates. The T-shirt was striped and featured a yellow star similar to the Star of David. Zara said, the design was inspired by "the sheriff's stars from the classic western films". Zara removed the shirt from sale a few hours, after they appeared for sale, and apologized.<ref name="Huffington Post">Template:Cite news</ref> Zara received criticism for selling the T-shirt in Israel because the country does not have sheriffs. Additionally, the word "Sheriff" is outlined in transparent letters on the bright yellow star.<ref name="Huffington Post" /> The Anti-Defamation League responded to the shirt, saying that it was offensive, but welcomed Zara's recognition of the potential imagery and removing the shirt from sale.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Labour practices
In August 2011, a Brazilian television show accused the company of using sweatshops for their outsourced production. The Regional Superintendency of Labour and Employment of São Paulo, Brazil, closed a factory that produced Zara's clothing for its poor labour conditions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Zara's representatives said the accusations of slave labour made against the retailer represent a breach of the code of conduct for workshops of Inditex. The company also states factories responsible for unauthorized outsourcing have been asked to regularize immediately the situation of the workers involved.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In September 2013, Bangladeshi garment workers for suppliers to Zara and its parent company, Inditex, protested following the 2013 Dhaka garment factory collapse, demanding a monthly US$100 minimum wage.<ref name="Protests">Template:Cite web</ref> Inditex does not publicly disclose the factories that produce their branded clothing.<ref name="disclose">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2016, BBC News stated they found evidence of child labor and exploitation in factories in Turkey. Zara replied that there were some issues in June 2016 in one single factory and, instead of solving these issues immediately, they have given a period of six months to solve them.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In November 2017, customers shopping at Zara stores in Istanbul, Turkey, found handwritten notes purportedly from Turkish workers in the pockets of in-store garments asking shoppers to pressure Zara into paying them unpaid wages.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The company clarified the unpaid wages were due to a third-party manufacturer Bravo Tekstil,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> who had failed to pay their employees in the period up to its closing after going bankrupt.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The company said they would help to provide compensation to employees who weren't paid.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the agreement, only factory-floor employees were compensated, with "white-collar" employees not covered by the agreement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2022, about 1,000 shop assistants who work at Zara and other fashion brands owned by Inditex went on strike on Black Friday in the company's home town in northern Spain to demand better salaries.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Prior to a second strike, Inditex, Zara's parent company, has agreed to pay 322 euros more per month to shop assistants from 44 stores. Workers Template:Update after<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In December 2023, Yle reported in Finland that the local Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Regional State Administrative Agency had investigated the four Zara stores under suspicions of illegal labour practices. In the investigation it was found that the workload the employees were subjected to were illegal. In one store, 95% of respondents to the authorities' enquiry felt that the workload is unbearable.<ref name="Dec 2023 Finland">Template:Cite news</ref>
Copyright infringement
In July 2016, complaints were made against Zara that they had been stealing designs from multiple independent designers for their products. One of the designers, Tuesday Bassen, who previously worked with brands including Urban Outfitters and Nike, contacted Zara. The company responded Bassen's designs were not distinctive enough, and they received only a handful of complaints given the large volume of traffic they receive on their site. When the news was picked up by media outlets, Inditex, Zara's owning company, stated that the items in question have been suspended from sale, and that they are in contact with Bassen's lawyer to clarify and address the issue.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
As of April 2018, MaXhosa by Laduma is taking legal action against Zara for copying its designs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Zara responded to complaints from the designer by removing socks that resembled his artistic style.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Melania Trump
In June 2018, a Zara jacket with "I really don't care, do u?" emblazoned on the back became controversial after it was worn by Melania Trump when she visited a detention center for migrant children separated from their parents.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Political controversy in China
In January 2018, Shanghai's internet authority summoned representatives of Zara, chastising the company for listing Taiwan as a country and ordering it to rectify the situation immediately.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In September 2019, Zara supported Hong Kong strikes; however after pressures from Chinese social media Zara was forced to issue a statement expressing its support of the "one country, two systems" policy adopted by China in ruling Hong Kong, and its disapproval of anti-government strikes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Animal cruelty
In 2018, Zara's parent company Inditex committed to ban mohair from their products by 2020, responding to pressure from animal welfare groups regarding inhumane treatment of goats used for sourcing mohair.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Xinjiang region
In 2020, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute accused at least 82 major brands, including Zara, of being connected to forced Uyghur labor in Xinjiang.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Allegations of anti-Palestinian bullying and imagery
In June 2021, the company's women's head fashion designer Vanessa Perilman made anti-Palestinian comments in response to Palestinian model Qaher Harhash.<ref name="el-shai.com">Template:Cite web</ref> After receiving backlash for her comments when they were made public by Qaher, Perilman apologized and Zara later asked Qaher to post Perilman's apology on his social media.<ref name="el-shai.com"/> Because of Zara's delayed response, and decision to not fire Perilman, calls to boycott Zara emerged through social media.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In December 2023, Zara faced backlash over the release of their "ZARA ATELIER. Collection 04_The Jacket." campaign.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received 50 complaints about the advert,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> which included photos of a model posing with a mannequin wrapped in plastic, and others where the model was surrounded by rubble and rocks with a cardboard cut out of what appeared similar to the map of Palestine. Commenters likened the similarity of the promotional photos to the images of the aftermath of air strikes in Palestine and called for a boycott of the brand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The campaign was subsequently removed from their app and website, and some images removed from their Instagram account.<ref name=":0" /> On December 12, Zara announced that it "regrets" a "misunderstanding" about the ad campaign and that it was photographed in September.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Trademark Action
In April 2022, it was reported that Zara had taken legal action against "Tara Sartoria", a small clothing company owned by Vietnamese citizen Tara Nguyen. Ms. Nguyen's company sells products made by disadvantaged women in Indonesia and Vietnam.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Stores
As of November 2021, there were 2,264 stores across 96 countries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in early 2020, Zara stores worldwide closed temporarily due to restrictions. However, in April 2020 Zara's owner ramped up shipment to Asia as China ended its lockdown after 76 days.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>