Zara: men's clothing that is more elegant than ever.
Behind the third biggest brand in the world in terms of sales, Spanish fashion house Zara appeals thanks to its simple, well-cut designs which are in no danger of breaking the bank. Men are entitled to their own collection of clothing too, including suits with elegant cuts.
From a small workshop in Galicia to taking the world by storm.
When Amancio Ortega, his wife Rosalia, his brother Antonio and his sister-in-law Franca invested in a dressmaking workshop in La Coruna in 1963, their aim was to produce pyjamas and dressing gowns. Legend has it that the inspiration that led to the founding of Zara would come from Amancio's background. Born into modest surroundings, the story goes that at 14 years of age, he had copied a négligé as a present for his girlfriend, not having the wherewithal to buy her the one she had fallen in love with. The name came from the town of Zadar in Croatia, which had made a lasting impression on him. The first Zara store opened in 1975 based on an effective concept: proposing designs inspired by the major international fashion houses at affordable prices. In 1988, a store opened on foreign soil, in Porto. Another was inaugurated in New York one year later. In the space of a decade, the label launched collections for men and children, a line of fragrances and Zara Home, a range devoted to home decor.
In 2001, Amancio Ortega left his position as CEO. The baton was passed to Pablo Isla, the former Assistant CEO. Today, fashion house Zara is present in over 2,500 shops and distributed in some 80 countries. What we owe to the brand is a novel way of living fashion, with collections that are renewed almost every month to keep up with trends, and also the use of elastane (lycra) in figure-hugging clothing. When Kate Middleton donned a Zara dress the day after her wedding to Prince William, it was a form of consecration.
Zara loves dressing men, too.
Far from being a brand reserved for (young) ladies, Zara has also turned their attention in the direction of men. Guys are generally very taken with Zara suits. As they are with the coats and parkas, which are well cut, and Zara trousers and Bermuda shorts, that showcase elegance and simplicity. You can also find a whole series of print T-shirts, some subtle and others with all over prints, and comfortable hoodie sweatshirts.
Amongst the must-have Zara Homme pieces, the suit jackets and trousers are the most popular. That comes as no surprise: they are a way of putting together a smart wardrobe for less, without risking any fashion faux pas. The Palm Springs collection includes a wide range of chinos, shirts and T-shirts with a Californian vibe, injecting a holiday feel into a masculine wardrobe.