Zara went against conventional wisdom by sourcing a lot of its clothes closer to home and changing products much more frequently. That meant it could respond much faster to the latest trends and drop new items into stores every week. Just over half of its clothes are made in Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Turkey.
Zara manufactures its clothing through a hybrid model: it owns several key factories in Spain and Portugal while also outsourcing production to a vast network of third-party manufacturers across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Zara is much older than Shein; it was founded in 1975 in Spain by Amancio Ortega and Rosalia Mera. And unlike Shein, Zara had always aimed to be a fast fashion brand. From its inception, it became a hit among consumers by offering low-cost versions of popular and expensive clothing.
Zara manages unsold clothing 1 through discount sales, outlet stores, recycling programs, and donations. The brand avoids waste by repurposing fabrics, selling leftovers at lower prices, and working with charities to distribute excess stock.
How to Buy Zara Products (High Quality) at Wholesale Prices | Suppliers You Should Know
Is Zara better quality than H&M?
ZARA and H&M serve different needs. ZARA is trend-driven and positioned as an affordable luxury brand, while H&M focuses on accessibility and affordability. If you prioritize fast-changing styles and higher quality, ZARA is the better choice. If budget and variety matter more, H&M wins.
Shein accounted for nearly one-fifth of the global fast-fashion market , opens new tab in 2022, outpacing Zara and H&M. Shein's low prices - $5 t-shirts and $10 sweaters - also draw shoppers who might have otherwise shopped at clothing discount stores.
The suppliers are from the far East. Zara's supplier list, therefore, includes twelve clusters that concentrate 92-97% of the production: Spain, Turkey, Morocco, Portugal, India, Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, Brazil, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Argentina.
apparently, zara and the salvation army have some sort of a deal where they send what doesn't sell at zara stores to the thrift to be resold. but 90% of the clothes are flawed, stained or torn apart.
“If it's not in perfect condition, if there is a delay in the shipping or in the processing, or if you keep it for quite a long time before returning it, then it's not going to be resold,” Frei says. Third-party returns platform Optoro estimates that only 50% of returns will be.
Shein, originally named ZZKKO, was founded in China in 2008 by entrepreneur and search engine optimization (SEO) marketing specialist Chris Xu (Xu Yangtian). Information on Xu's educational and career background remains elusive as of 2022, with sources conflicting on details of his biography.
If you love Zara's stylish aesthetic, you'll feel at home at Mango. This Spanish brand is known for its sleek silhouettes and contemporary designs. Mango's pieces are elevated but still down-to-earth — a perfect Zara alternative. Mango offers a wide range of clothing, from denim to dresses and statement outerwear.
🛍️ First, type "marketplace" in the SHEIN search bar. This will take you to SHEIN Marketplace, a side of SHEIN you might not have explored before. Make sure to follow SHEIN Marketplace's account by hitting the follow button in the three dots at the top of your screen.
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.
The name is an abbreviation of 'trafaluc', which after extensive research we can safely say is a made-up word. It's marketing speak and nothing more. As Zara is a Spanish brand we spent a good portion of our day looking through dictionaries and on Google Translate but we've come up empty.
Primark is an exciting, growing brand that provides consumers with value-for-money fashion items. The company has an effective supply chain, bringing together manufacturing units in China, India, Turkey, Bangladesh and other countries, with retail outlets in Ireland, the UK and other parts of Europe.
Generally, Zara's target age distribution is between adults aged 18-40, including both men and women. Zara's target market is largely focused on Millennials and Gen Z, who are both fashion-conscious and tech-savvy.
Did you know that the British Red Cross Charity Shop has a deal with Zara and Berska, where any stock that doesn't sell gets sent straight to the charity shops 🙌🏻 #charityshop #charityshopping #thrift #thrifted #thrifting #derry #northernireland #sustainable.
They initially called it 'Zorba' after the classic 1964 film Zorba the Greek, but after learning there was a bar with the same name two blocks away, rearranged the letters to read 'Zara'. It is believed the extra 'a' came from an additional set of letters that had been made for the company.
Zara's success lies in its ability to work with a wide range of manufacturers across the globe. While it has some of its manufacturing in Spain, it also works with partners in countries like China, Turkey, and India to produce its vast array of stylish garments.
Yes, ZARA manufactures clothing in Bangladesh, along with many other global brands like H&M and Levi's. The country's low production costs 3 and expertise in textiles make it a top choice for fashion companies.
Even before the impending price hikes, consumer enthusiasm had begun to cool. The percentage of consumers shopping on Shein weekly dropped 8% between April 2024 and February 2025, while monthly shoppers decreased 11%, per Omnisend data. Weekly Temu shoppers fell 19% and monthly shoppers fell 19% during that same time.
Some stats suggest Zara releases 24 trend-led collections every year, 500 designs a week and almost 20,000 per year. Other estimates put its production levels at 450 million garments a year.
H&M generally sells better quality clothes than Shein. H&M prioritizes fabrics and craftsmanship over low-cost mass production, while Shein focuses on affordability and fast trend cycles.
