Half a Century of Style: Zara’s Global Takeover, One Rack at a Time

Fifty years ago, Amancio Ortega quietly opened a store on Calle Juan Flórez in A Coruña, Spain. What looked like just another boutique in a sleepy seaside town would become the spark for a global fashion juggernaut. Half a century later, Zara’s reach spans 98 countries with a digital footprint in 214 markets—and it’s still moving like it’s got something to prove.

Back in 1975, Ortega’s first move into retail came after a decade of manufacturing women’s clothing under his company, Confecciones GOA. But the storefront in A Coruña? That was a shift in the game. It wasn’t just about making clothes anymore—it was about listening to the people buying them. Fast fashion was still an idea waiting to explode, and Zara was about to light the fuse.

Today, Zara’s core philosophy remains stubbornly customer-centric. Real-time data from around the world fuels its design decisions, while a 300-strong team of designers and commercial creatives turns those insights into what lands on the racks—and your screen. Yes, there’s a tech-powered engine under all that minimalist tailoring.

Zara’s 50th birthday is more than just a milestone—it’s a full-on celebration of everything that built the brand. The flagship store on Juan Flórez has been transformed into a love letter to its hometown and its heritage. The seafront “galerías,” iconic features of A Coruña’s skyline, are reimagined into a striking architectural installation housing a curated display of limited-edition pieces. Inside, there’s a boutique lounge and café stacked with magazines dating back to May 1975—because what better way to honour five decades of fashion than flipping through its pages?

But Zara isn’t just looking back—it’s putting on a show. On May 9, 2025, exactly fifty years since Ortega first opened those doors, Zara dropped a cinematic tribute directed by none other than Steven Meisel. The short film, 50 Years, 50 Icons, features a jaw-dropping lineup: Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Alek Wek, Linda Evangelista, Twiggy, Amber Valletta, and 43 other fashion powerhouses belting out Donna Summer’s I Feel Love. Yes, all of them. Together. On film. For Zara.

Marta Ortega Pérez, non-executive chair of Inditex and driving force behind the project, says it best: “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.”

And she’s not wrong. This isn’t just nostalgia. It’s a flex. A declaration that Zara’s not slowing down. That agility—the ability to shape-shift collections mid-season, respond to global taste in real time, and build architectural stores that are as forward-thinking as the clothes inside—remains the blueprint. Zara’s been evolving for 50 years, and the real story is: it’s just getting started.

Watch the 50 Years, 50 Icons film now and shop the collection at zara.com/my