Thu, 08 May 2025

Thu, 08 May 2025 Inside the secretive world of Zara

The BBC's Emma Simpson gets a rare glimpse behind the scenes of how the fashion brand operates.
Zara, the world's largest fashion retailer, is gearing up for its 50th anniversary and looking forward to another successful year with a focus on trendy and affordable clothing. The company, owned by Inditex, has navigated changing markets and growing competition from online players like Shein and Temu, who ship directly from China. Inditex's CEO Oscar Garcia Maceiras says that the company's diversification strategy, which involves producing in 50 different markets with non-exclusive suppliers, allows it to adapt quickly to changes in the market. He also downplayed the impact of US tariffs on Zara's supply chains and expansion plans in the US. Mehdi Sousanne, a designer for Zara, says that inspiration for designs can come from anywhere, including street fashion, cinema, and runways. The company's design process involves creating mood boards, sketching ideas, and producing paper samples before finalizing production. Zara has disrupted traditional retail by releasing new collections more frequently than competitors and sourcing a significant portion of its clothing in Europe rather than in Asia. This approach allows the company to respond quickly to trends and drop new items into stores every week. However, Zara's success may be facing challenges as mainstream rivals like H&M and Uniqlo try to catch up, and online players like Shein and Temu gain popularity. Inditex's CEO says that Zara's focus on quality, creativity, and sustainability will help it maintain its market share. The company was founded by Amancio Ortega in 1975 and is still majority-owned by his family. Despite the challenges facing the retail industry, Zara remains a dominant player with a strong brand reputation and loyal customer base.
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