Zara is a fast fashion brand from Spain. Amancio Ortega Gaona and Rosalía Mera Goyenechea founded it in 1975, with the first store in the center of A Coruña, Galicia. The store originally sold products that resembled the high-end fashion people were buying at the time, at much lower prices. Zara is known for its short design and production cycle. New designs can reach stores within weeks, and designs that sell poorly are quickly replaced. Besides clothing, Zara also sells accessories and shoes. The brand does not advertise and chooses to put its money into opening new stores. For secondhand buyers, this means Zara bags and shoes tend to follow fast-changing trends, so the condition and model need to be looked at one by one.
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Zara was founded in 1975 in A Coruña, Galicia. Its original name was Zorba, taken from the classic film Zorba the Greek. After the founder learned there was a bar with the same name just two blocks away, the letters were rearranged into Zara. The first store sold products that looked like high-end fashion, but at low prices. Soon afterward, other stores opened in cities across Spain.
The turning point came in the 1980s. The design, production, and distribution processes were changed so the brand could respond to new trends faster. Design work was handled by a group of designers supported by information technology, not by individuals. Zara opened its own factory in La Coruña in 1980. In 1990 its facilities were upgraded with a just-in-time system designed by Toyota. Zara is reported to select about 12,000 new designs from about 40,000 sketches each year. Designs that do not sell within a week are pulled from stores. The most fashion-driven items are partly made in factories the company owns in Spain, Portugal, and Turkey. Basic items are more often outsourced to suppliers in Asia.
The first store outside Spain opened in Porto, Portugal, in 1988, followed by the United States in 1989 and France in 1990. Zara entered Indonesia in 2005 through a franchise held by Mitra Adiperkasa. Its online store launched in September 2010. More recently, Zara also opened Zara Pre-Owned, a service where customers can sell, donate, or repair old items. The service started in the United Kingdom in 2022 and reached the United States in October 2024.
What we check before listing
We look at the synthetic leather coating first, especially at the folds, corners, and straps. This type of material can crack or peel with age, and that damage is hard to repair. We check the stitching to see whether it is neat and straight and whether any threads have come loose. Hardware such as zippers, buckles, and clasps is tested one by one, including whether the color coating is still intact. On shoes, we look at the condition of the sole, the heel, and the inside that touches the foot. We compare labels and brand marks with the general forms we usually come across, but that is an observation, not a guarantee.
Caring for it
Clean synthetic leather with a soft damp cloth, then dry it with a clean cloth. Avoid alcohol, solvents, and direct sunlight, as they can make the coating brittle. Store bags stuffed with paper to keep their shape, and put shoe trees in shoes. Keep them away from damp places so the material does not turn sticky or grow mold.
FAQ
Are the Zara bags and shoes at Sekali Lagi made of real leather?
The Zara items we sell are made of synthetic leather. We still list the material details for each item on its product page, so check that before buying.
Since when has Zara been in Indonesia?
Zara opened its first store in Indonesia in 2005. Here, Zara operates through a franchise held by Mitra Adiperkasa.
How long can synthetic leather last?
It depends on how it is used and stored. Synthetic leather can crack or peel over time, especially if it is often exposed to heat or damp. That is why we check the condition of the surface coating carefully.
Why are Zara models hard to find again after some time?
Zara is known for changing designs quickly. Designs that sell poorly in a short time are pulled from stores, so many models are only around for a short while.
References
Facts summarised and rewritten from the sources above (CC BY-SA licence).