If we’re going to talk about the New York fashion scene, then Zara is a good place to start. This world-famous upscale clothing and accessory retailer began in Spain in 1975 and has spread to multiple locations in 73 countries around the world. Zara isn’t a store you’re going to see on every corner though, this fashion hotspot strategically places itself in large cities where the tourists flow as rapidly as the cash does.
This label has been seen on fashion trend-setters such as Olivia Palermo, Denise Van Outen, Elen Rivas and X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson to simply name a few. The Spanish clothing label has recently taken off among red-carpet frequenters after Kate Middleton wore an $80.00 Zara dress the day after the royal wedding.
What Sets Zara Apart?
Zara’s road to the runway lies in its claim to be able to design, manufacture, and deliver a new product within two short weeks while most other industry-leading retailers take at least 6 months to complete this same process. Back in the 1980′s Zara began to reduce production time to stay on top of the fashion trends. Founder, Amancio Ortega, made improvements in his production scale through the use of information technology, and went to using groups of designers instead of individuals.
Because of this, Zara is constantly releasing new items (approximately 10,000 each year) and is able to stay on the cutting edge of the fashion industry at all times. A particular reason why Zara is able to be so successful in this area is because their product moves so quickly, giving them the space to constantly introduce new pieces.
Haven’t heard of Zara? Well, this high-class retailer has a policy of zero advertizing. Instead, they spend this portion of their revenue on opening more stores in well-known locations. Zara believes that their product sells itself and would rather not cheapen their name and style standard by pasting themselves all over billboards, television commercials, and subway stops.
Shop Like a Celebrity
Zara was described by the Louis Vuitton fashion director, Daniel Piette, as, “possible the most innovative and devastating retailer in the world.” If designers this big are celebrating and fearing this ever-growing retailer, then you know you’re in the right place. Don’t worry though, you don’t have to be paid like a celebrity to shop like one. Because Zara moves its product so quickly, its items are generally affordable and you can always find top-of-the-line items (recently released) on sale.
If you’re looking for great shopping in the big apple, Zara is definitely the place to begin.