Fashion Fashion

Inside the secretive world of Zara

Inside the secretive world of Zara

It's going to be a very sexy summer, a touch of romantic, cowboy and rock and roll.

That's according to Mehdi Sousanne, at least. And he should know. He's a designer for Zara who helps create the clothes for a brand that's one of the most successful stories in High Street fashion.

Zara is owned by Inditex, the world's biggest fashion retailer, which runs a string of store chains including Massimo Dutti and Pull & Bear.

It relies on 1,800 suppliers across the world, but nearly all the clothes are brought to Spain where the company is based, to be despatched to stores in 97 countries.

Zara doesn't advertise and rarely gives interviews. But as it marks 50 years since the opening of its first store, I've come to its vast campus in Galicia to meet the boss and workers for a rare glimpse into how the secretive brand operates.

It's a time when the company finds itself having to navigate fast-changing markets, with growing competition from ultra-cheap online players Shein and Temu, who ship their goods direct from China, as well as uncertainty surrounding US tariffs.

But Oscar Garcia Maceiras, Inditex's CEO, says US President Donald Trump's tariffs won't disrupt its supply chains or change Zara's plans to expand further in the US, now its second biggest market.

"Bear in mind that for us, diversification is key. We are producing in almost 50 different markets with non-exclusive suppliers so we are more than used to adapt ourselves to change," he tells me.


Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
LIVE SCORES
West Tigers 6–32 Warriors Full Time
Dolphins 0–66 Sharks Full TIme
Bulldogs 16–40 Raiders Full Time
Maroons 12–30 Blues Full Time
France 2–0 Morocco Full Time
Spain 2–1 Belgium Full Time
Norway 1–2 England Full Time
Drua Women vs Reds 1:05pm
Western Force vs Waratahs 6:05pm
New Zealand 47–17 Italy Full-time
Australia 26–42 France Full Time
Japan 20–36 Ireland Full Time
No recent scores
Bua 8–13 Macuata Full Time
Yasawa LBD–WBD Vatukoula Full Time
Northland WBD–LBD Ra Full Time
Bua LBD–WBD Taveuni Full Time
Yasawa 61–0 Vatukoula Full Time
Northland 47–42 Ra Full Time