Fashion & Beauty

ZARA CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

May 9, 2025
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On May 9, 1975, Amancio Ortega opened the first Zara store in A Coruña, Spain. At the time, his company, Confecciones GOA, had been producing garments for a little over a decade, since 1963. The opening of this first Zara establishment marked a pivotal moment for a company that has been making and distributing clothing ever since.

Under the Zara brand, the company emerged as a fashion retailer with Women’s, Men’s, and Kids’ collections and gradually built and strengthened a philosophy of placing its customers at the heart of its decision-making, listening attentively to their preferences, and offering them quality fashion at affordable prices.

Through a comprehensive analysis of its global sales and trends in all its markets in real time, the company gains valuable insights that are embedded into its collections by its more than 300 designers and commercial teams. This creative process has been further enriched through collaboration between Zara and renowned creators and designers.

The brand’s international footprint in 98 physical markets and 214 online markets as of 2025 has allowed Zara to strengthen its dialogue with customers throughout the world. Zara remains focused on offering a seamless shopping experience, blending physical stores and an integrated online platform to meet customers wherever they are.

At the same time, Zara stores have emerged as unique projects in which architecture, design, construction materials, and historical references blend seamlessly with the latest technology.

This creative flexibility, allowing the collection to evolve throughout the season, combined with agile production, efficient logistics, a network of stores in the best locations, an online platform, and an ever-evolving shopping experience, forms the essence of Zara’s 50-year legacy.

ZARA’S FIRST STORE ON JUAN FLÓREZ

Zara’s first store opened on Calle Juan Flórez in A Coruña, Spain, on May 9, 1975. This marked Amancio Ortega’s entry into the retail world, following his success in women’s clothing production through his company, Confecciones GOA.

Five decades later, as this store and the brand turn 50, it is essential to pay tribute to its roots and honor the place where it all started. The distinctive “galerías” on the seafront buildings of A Coruña, which are part of the architectural DNA of the city, now become the main feature of this “new store,” which has been temporarily adapted specifically for this anniversary. This architectural installation frames a unique display of limited-edition pieces and objects created to commemorate these 50 years of Zara.

The charm and playfulness of the design and the imaginative use of scale engage local and international visitors. They can also access a café and a boutique lounge, where they can browse the bookshelves stocked with an extensive collection of magazines published from May 1975 until today, offering a chance to rediscover 50 years of fashion, art, and culture.

During this anniversary year, the Juan Flórez store becomes not only a celebration of the brand but also a tribute to the city’s architectural heritage and its history.

50 YEARS 50 ICONS FILM

50 years, 50 icons. To honor the 50th year of Zara, Steven Meisel stages a spectacular motion image collaboration with 50 of the greatest models in the world – a unique celebration of creativity, longevity and love for fashion, instigated by Marta Ortega Pérez, in respect of her long-standing friendship and love of Steven’s work.

These 50 models are gathered together, for the first time, and are captured by Meisel in performance – every one of them singing Donna Summer’s 1977 hit ‘I Feel Love’. The film commemorating this landmark moment is released on May 9 2025 – exactly 50 years to the day of the opening of the first Zara store in A Coruña, in Galicia, Spain.

Marta Ortega Pérez, Inditex non-executive chair, says “Creativity is the heart of Zara – it is the characteristic that defines us. This incredible film by Steven Meisel is an expression of creative freedom, and the magic we always want to create. And it stars 50 of the world’s leading models – celebrated for their beauty but also their characters, their individualities and their strength – celebrating Zara as we turn 50. This campaign is a testament to everything the teams at Zara have created over the past five decades, honoring their enthusiasm, talent and boundless Creativity.”

The cast featured in the film are: Abbey Lee, Adriana Lima, Alek Wek, Amar Akway, Amber Valletta, Amelia Gray, Awar Odhiang, Candice Swanepoel, Carla Bruni, Caroline Trentini, Carolyn Murphy, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Doutzen Kroes, Edie Campbell, Eva Herzigova, Fei Fei Sun, Georgia Moot, He Cong, Imaan Hammam, Irina Shayk, Iselin Steiro, Joan Smalls, Julia Nobis, Karen Elson, Karlie Kloss, Lexi Boling, Lina Zhang, Linda Evangelista, Liya Kebede, Lulu Tenney, Mariacarla Boscono, Marisa Berenson, Maty Fall, Meghan Collison, Mona Tougaard, Naomi Campbell, Natasha Poly, Paloma Elsesser, Paulina Porizkova, Penelope Tree, Precious Lee, Rianne Van Rompaey, Rosalieke Fuchs, Sascha Rajasalu, Sasha Pivovarova, Sora Choi,Twiggy, Vittoria Ceretti and Yasmin Warsame.