Zara The Monster
I’m reposting some facts and numbers on one of the favourite brands of many style bloggers, Zara.
I have updated the numbers since this was first published on my blog in 2013. I’ve been writing about fast fashion and sustainability for over six years.
Here are some interesting numbers to ponder about Zara, the largest clothing manufacturer in the world based out of Spain.
It opened in 1963 under the name Zorba was later changed to Zara due to a conflict with a bar in the same town with the same name.
They produce 948 million garments per year. (2015)
They have 7,474 stores worldwide (2017).
Net sales of 25.34 billion Euros (2017).
171,839 employees (2017)
Profits for 2017 of 3.16 billion euros.
Zara’s giant warehouse, at five million square feet, eclipses even the mega-warehouses Amazon uses to meet its major demands.
It takes a mere two weeks from inception of a garment to having it produced and in stores. 2 WEEKS!
They have a design team of 200 people each of which are tasked with creating five new designs per week.
Their focus is not on the details but the overall look of the garment.
They do not advertise since their products have such a short shelf life any ads they would run would irrelevant by the time the magazine or article is published.
Zara creates artificial scarcity by producing a limited amount of one design. This design is only kept in store for three weeks. This creates a sense of urgency with the consumer. The lesser the availability, the more desirable an object becomes.
Unsustainable? – you bet
Profitable? – absolutely
How do you turn around a speeding fashion consumption train like this?
People aren’t going to simply walk away from fast fashion. People didn’t walk away from fast food or fast technology.
What will it take to make the fashion market crash?
You.
Responsible consumption isn’t a choice, it’s a necessity.
Take control of your fast fashion addiction.
Reduce your consumption, avoid fast fashion, buy secondhand. These are small steps to improving the earth’s chances for survival.
Remember…we are not what we buy.
Linking up with Patti for Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday and Fancy Friday
Three Things A Fashion Lover Can Do To Help Save Our Planet
1. Anything you buy secondhand will be better for the earth.
New resources aren’t utilized to create it. Trying your best to shop secondhand first is the easiest way to have a clear conscience that you are making a personal effort to curb the destruction of the only home we have.
The quality of pieces you can find secondhand will astound you.
If you don’t have the time to shop secondhand yourself you can always shop consignment stores which will have a more curated selection. You can also shop secondhand online via Poshmark, Thred Up, Ebay and Etsy. Most of the pieces I find for my Etsy store are bought via thrift.
Here are a couple of my recent secondhand finds…
2. Educate Yourself
Remaining oblivious to the reality isn’t a choice anymore. Knowledge is power. Taking responsibility for our choices and educating ourselves and others is the best course of action.
We are on the Titanic now. One can look away from the iceberg, ignore it, keep eating our lovely meals, dancing away wearing our beautiful clothes but in the end we all know how that story ends.
Here are some documentaries and articles I recommend for educating yourself about the perils of our obsession and overconsumption of fashion:
River Blue
The True Cost available on Netflix
The High Cost of Fast Fashion
Are Your Clothes Wrecking The Planet?
Luxe: Les Dessous Chocs (in French)
Fast Fashion: Inside The Fight To End The Silence On Waste
Shop Less, Mend More
Clothing Fabrics: How Sustainable is Your Wardrobe?
3. Buy Less