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
Patti says
Val is right too, of course; if we all stopped shopping new it would be better for the environment, but not immediately better for thousands of workers. We have to move in a sustainable direction, and re-train workers as we go. A long hard task, but worth doing. I love that you are keeping up the pressure on fast fashion! xox
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
jodie filogomo says
It’s an interesting conundrum. In my brain, there is always a pro and con to each way of thinking.
Not that I purchase much from Zara, but I do have a shopping problem….
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
suzanne carillo says
I’m not really sure what the pro is Jodie. There are only facts and the facts are simple, the earth is running out of resources, they aren’t renewable. I see no upside to that.
Highland Fashionista says
I remember seeing your post the first time around, but for some reason, this time it was more shocking to see that mountain of clothes piled high. That probably says more about me than anything, but I cannot wrap my brain around a two week window for conception to distribution of a garment. For someone who loves clothes, that simply does not seem to lend enough gravitas to the process or the art of it.
suzanne carillo says
I’ve updated the article quite a bit, when it was first published it was 3 weeks from inception to in store, now it has gone down to two weeks. Also I added the visual because I think that people don’t realize the destruction and depletion of our planet until you can see some of the results.
I just went to an exhibit called Anthropocene that was so disturbing I can barely concentrate on anything else. Photographer’s surreal images reveal the scale of the impact humans have as they exploit the planet’s resources. Essentially we have already run out of time. Making people more aware of our over consumption has become a mission for me although I must admit that I’m frustrated with the lack of interest.
We have been trained to believe that new is better. It isn’t. Nor are we what we buy.
The shifting of consciousness is the beginning of change.
beate says
thank you suzanne!!
i shared this post (on the only platform i use – G+). and i must say the “argument” of some, that the employees of the fast fashion industry will suffer if we stop buying, is NO argument at all.
because this people suffer already!! everyone knows this! and IF there is no one who buys fast fashion anymore – we still need clothes. SLOW FASHION CLOTHES – which need much more labor and even love to produce – so in the end they will have jobs and maybe better payed one too – then slow fashion is of cause more expensive and with a fair trade system more of that money would land at the working people………
etc.etc.
(you, suzanne, knows this – just writing for the others that read here :-D)
xxxxx
suzanne carillo says
Of course you are so right Beate.
I think that most people don’t realize the severity of the situation. We are already damned. There is no way to recover from the damage already done. Ignoring the issues is the worst thing we can do. I urge you to check out Anthropocene which visually documents through photographs the obliteration of the earth’s resources by man. It is devastating.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/exhibit-national-gallery-anthropocene-1.4837732
Lise says
I am very interested and thank you for this post. Lise
suzanne carillo says
Thanks Lise.
Señora Allnut says
I’ve never been a huge fan of Zara, even when it was something new that made clothes more affordable and popular. I’m old enough to remember it!. I also remember that Zara was used to produce many of their clothes locally in Galicia (Spain) where they contributed to create and then ruined a fashion industry when they decide to move their production to Asia. Many workers (women) in small workshops lost their jobs and/or were ruined, which was really bad for the region. This has happened several times, as they move their production to cheaper and cheaper factories with lower work conditions.
So I can’t support buying clothes because of the workers. Big companies create only exploitative work and ruin local workshops and small factories. They don’t create wealth in the places where clothes are made. And that’s unfair!
Sorry for the speech, I got carried away as I was writting.
besos
suzanne carillo says
It is so interesting getting a Spaniard’s perspective on this as they never speak about any of that in all the research I did online. I’m glad you shared this with us.
Their corporation is so large that every decision they make has a global impact.
Their business plan is damaging and exploitative business practices at its core. There is no upside.
Ann says
The only Zara I have in my wardrobe is a charity shopped cardigan. I’ve never even been into one of their stores (there’s one within walking distance from my office), and I have no intention to change that, reading about their vile practices. Two weeks, I really can’t get my head around that. That’s fast fashion in the extreme. Good on you to keep posting about this, even if you can only convince one person, that’s one person less buying into the fast fashion madness! xxx
suzanne carillo says
That is my thought too Ann. I want to change the way people look at fast fashion.
Vix says
It’s absolutely shocking, isn’t it? I’ll hold my hands up and admit that I do own three pieces I bought from Zara last year although they’ll no doubt be in my wardrobe for years!
Isn’t it utter madness that a new colection is launched almost fortnightly?
Of course it’s not just Zara who is guilty – my pet hate is Primark who have a flagship store in our town centre, given to them RENT FREE by our local council to encourage more shoppers into the town – as a consequence almost every other shop in our high street (including Marks and Spencer) has closed down. I hate the bastards with avengeance.
Keep doing what you’re doing, if it makes just one person rethink their shopping habits then you’ve done some good. In the meantime read this article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46099418?fbclid=IwAR2PRWQPOtvGj83ANPBjwGlKwTy2qrqVsTRcAMrL5BhlEmuWqXTwAiMLTKA
Shall we go and move to Finland? xxx
suzanne carillo says
Thank you for that brilliant link Vix! I’m glad to see that some countries are making an effort.
That is ridiculous that Primark gets free rent. As if they need it! Let’s give more money to conglomerates that are destroying the earth. (shaking my head).
Veronica Cooke says
Wise words, Suzanne!
Marilee J. Gramith says
Zara has never served as more than window shopping for me but that doesn’t let me off the hook where over-consumption is concerned.
You continue to inspire me to reevaluate my own fashion “habit” Suzanne. I need to be more consistently mindful of the economic, social and environmental impacts of my “desire to acquire”. Thank you for providing this compelling research.
The term “influencer” in its application to Suzanne Carillo is evolving new teeth!
suzanne carillo says
Your usage of words it always succinct Jude, “desire to acquire” is exactly what ails us. Once we start seeing our overconsumption for what it really is, destruction and exploitation I’m hopeful our desires will wane. With our own growing awareness of how our actions impact the natural world, the question is how best we can shape our actions so that the consequences of our activities are purposeful and positive.
Theresa Campbell says
The throwaway mentality is the norm. Slow fashion is more expensive, so many consumers won’t buy it. They’d rather own tons of cheap stuff that falls apart, than fewer, better made items that were sewn by people who are paid a fair wage. I don’t know what the answer is. But I totally agree with you. Something has got to give. Like any major social change, education is key. Exhibits like Anthropocene will hopefully open some eyes.
Theresa
suzanne carillo says
What I find frustrating is those that turn away from learning and choose to remain ignorant because it suits their current lifestyle and habits. That is fine if you’re on the Titanic alone and choose to ignore the iceberg that is heading straight towards you. The reality is that we’re all in the same boat and some of us are waving our hands frantically trying to change course.
Sherry - Petite Over 40 says
For what it’s worth, I find thrift and vintage shopping much more satisfying than shopping retail. It’s true I don’t always find what I’m looking for when I go shopping, but when I discover that particular piece that no one else has, it feels like a real win. Like a treasure hunt.
Keep preaching your passion, Suzanne. I first learned about secondhand fashion from you. Remember how my friend Margo was jealous you had gotten me to go thrifting with you? When she had suggested she and I go several years prior, I wasn’t ready to try it. But you convinced me and I’ve never looked back. Change does happen and you’ve already made a difference.
– Sherry
http://www.petiteover40.com
suzanne carillo says
Thanks so much for this Sherry. Often I feel like I’m failing and this gives me hope.
Elle says
I am so glad to read this. I thought I commented on it before but it doesn’t appear as though I did?
I will not shop at Zara, period. I do sometimes buy fast fashion at charity resale. I do have a very large quantity of clothes, shoes and bags, and even though most is second hand, I do think about having all of this stuff. I have also accumulated so much over the years, as I am essentially the same size since high school.
I do give things away when they no longer suit me, and when I do it is to someone that I know will wear it, so it doesn’t end up in landfill.
I would really like to add Amazon to this list. When I see all of the cardboard boxes being flown around the country it bothers me very much. They are affectively killing all competition and are moving to New York, a place that really doesn’t need more traffic. Many other states need the jobs more.
Ultimately we are responsible for all of our consumption habits , eating factory farmed meat is also putting our planet in peril, as well as being cruel. I do eat out, so I am not perfect here either, but I am very careful. I do not buy factory farmed meat however, and eat mostly nuts seeds and plants. Wild fish too. Bought in local stores and not Whole Foods, where I used to love to shop before amazon bought it. FOr groceries I also use a delivery service that incorporates many small food companies, and delivers it by bicycle, therefore avoiding car exhaust .
I will buy the occasional,exceptional piece at retail if it looks like something I will treasure for years and hopefully decades, and can pass down. I do love good clothes and value of the workmanship.
Sorry for the long response…
❤️❤️❤️
Elle
https://theellediaries.com/
suzanne carillo says
Thanks for reading and commenting Elle.
Before, when I looked at clothing, I used to see something pretty that I desired, now I just see mountains of waste, polluted rivers, lost seas (yes!) and toxic environments devoid of all life. It just makes me sad. I wonder how many of earth’s non renewable resources were used to create something else we don’t need.
I continue to save items from the landfill to give them a second life with someone new that sees the value in purchasing secondhand but I feel my efforts are futile. We are doomed with over consumption and greed, never satiated.
I agree…Amazon is truly taking over the world, and not for the better.
Elle says
I know, and once you see it, you can’t un see it.. but I also feel that for me..saving pieces from landfill can be a bit obsessive…
I live in a co op where utilities are built into the monthly payment… so there is no financial incentive to keep the heat down, and the lights off.. and yet I persist even when ridiculed.
My daughter does rent the runway, which is a good option.. save for dry cleaning and shipping, not incidental…
If we focus on all of the waste we will just sink into despair..and that doesn’t help either.
Extinction is the rule, not the exception..
Have I depressed you further..
I am sorry!
There are some scraps of hope.. let’s cling to them.
❤️❤️
Elle
https://theellediaries.com/
Shelley@Forestcityfashionista says
As Vix mentioned, it’s not just Zara, it’s Forever 21, Urban Behaviour, Garage, and all the other brands that specialize in cheap, trendy, disposable clothes. You can tell how much is discarded regularly by how much we see in the thrift stores, and it’s not worth buying secondhand because it was so poorly made in the first place. Many of us who have been blogging for years have advocated secondhand shopping and while it has become more popular, I don’t know that the mindset of most 20-something shoppers has really changed enough to make a dent in the amount of damage the fast fashion business is doing to the planet. I hope I’m wrong.
suzanne carillo says
I am very aware that Zara is just the tip of the iceberg. I chose them because so many bloggers love them and also because they were the first to offer inception to store in two weeks. They were also the first to create a business strategy that was dedicated to offering more choices in shorter supply creating urgency and demand. No other fast fashion house did that previously. Now of course many of them have followed suit.
I am concerned about the younger generations but have been surprisingly disappointed by many of the over 40 bloggers that are also choosing to continue on with their bad habits and ignore that they are destroying the earth. I used to think that as you got older you became wiser, I no longer believe that. It’s fine if they are destroying their own home and don’t care, but they are destroying mine.
Melanie says
Such a huge and important topic. You are an excellent voice, Suzanne. I think our consumption behavior needs to change; we shouldn’t be shopping so frequently for clothes in general.
I wrote a huge, long comment but deleted it. There was no end to it! You are making a difference.
Emma Peach says
I used to shop at Zara, until quite recently, but I made the decision to boycott a number of big retailers for various reasons. I detest Primark – it’s cheap and nasty, yuk. More recently I stopped buying from Amazon, all shops in the Arcadia group (including Topshop) and House of Fraser. I don’t like how these big, expolitative companies are making so much money and making the owners filthy rich. Never again will I give a penny to Philip Green or Mike Ashley (new owner of House of Fraser). Instead I’ll buy from small, ethical businesses and second hand shops. I’d rather spend more and buy one good quality item than a load of cheap stuff because it’s all over Instagram.
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com