In the fast-paced world of fashion, two Spanish brands have taken the global stage by storm. They are captivating fashion-conscious consumers with their trendy and affordable clothing.
Zara and Mango are giant fast-fashion competitors, each leaving a lasting imprint with their unique approach to fashion retailing. Their shared history, fierce competition, and occasional brawls from their humble beginnings to their global dominance make an intriguing story.
Let’s find out why these brands are always at each other’s throats.
History and Origins
Zara, the brainchild of Amancio Ortega, was founded in 1974 in La Coruña, a coastal town in Spain. Ortega had a vision to create a retail brand that could offer affordable and fashionable clothing, inspired by the latest runway trends, with quick turnaround times.
This marked the birth of the fast fashion concept, a revolutionary retail model that disrupted the traditional fashion industry. Zara designs, produces, and distributes its clothing in-house, allowing it to modify its collection to changing fashion trends.
On the other hand, Mango, founded by brothers Isak and Nahman Andic, started its journey in 1984 in Barcelona, Spain. The brand initially focused on women’s fashion and aimed to provide sophisticated and stylish clothing at affordable prices.
Mango’s early success is attributed to its offering affordable but luxury fashion; catering to a niche market most fashion retailers overlooked.
Fashion Strategy
Zara’s strategy is founded on a vertically integrated supply chain, with a strong emphasis on in-house production and quick turnaround times.
Zara’s design and production teams collaborate closely to identify the hottest trends in fashion, manufacture, and deliver them to stores in as little as two weeks. This gives Zara’s collection a steady stream of new styles, keeping their stores fresh and appealing to customers.
Mango, on the other hand, has followed a more traditional outsourcing model, relying on external suppliers for its production. It also has a swift turnaround time by maintaining close relationships with its suppliers and leveraging its efficient logistics and distribution network.
Sure, they have different production strategies, but they have a similar target market.
Zara vs Mango- Product Range and Styling
Both Zara and Mango offer a wide range of clothing, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children. However, there are some differences in their product range and styling.
Zara is known for its trendy and fast-changing collections that cater to a wide range of styles, that closely follow the latest fashion trends. Their clothing lines are characterized by bold and edgy designs, with an emphasis on statement pieces, unique prints, and innovative silhouettes.
Mango, on the other hand, offers a more sophisticated and chic aesthetic, with a focus on classic and timeless designs. Their clothing lines are characterized by elegant and refined styles, with an emphasis on clean lines, neutral colors, and minimalist details.
Mango, on the other hand, has a slightly lower pricing strategy than Zara and positions itself as an affordable fast fashion brand. Its pricing is more accessible, appealing to a broader customer base looking for fashionable clothing at lower prices.
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Store Experience and Visual Merchandising
Mango and Zara prioritize making their physical stores appealing and comfortable for people to shop. They spend a lot of money on making their stores look nice and trendy, with cool displays and layouts.
Zara stores are known for their sleek and modern designs, with an emphasis on minimalism and functionality. The stores are typically large and spacious, with plenty of room for browsing and trying on clothes.
Zara stores store has a fast-paced shopping environment, they often change the displays and mannequins to show their new collections. This makes customers feel excited to explore the store.
Mango stores have a different look and feel compared to Zara stores. They are smaller in size but have a more elegant and upscale vibe. They are designed with a boutique-like feel, with carefully curated displays and visual merchandising that reflects their chic and refined aesthetic.
Mango stores offer a more relaxed shopping experience, with a focus on personalized service and attention to detail.
Zara vs Mango- Sustainability, Corporate, And Social Responsibility
Both Zara and Mango and have made efforts to address the sustainability of their operations.
Zara has implemented the “Closing the Loop” program, which encourages customers to return used clothing for recycling. They also invest in environmentally friendly materials like organic cotton and recycled fibers.
Mango has also implemented the “Take Action” program, which encourages customers to donate old clothing for recycling. They have also launched a “Committed” collection that uses sustainable materials and promotes responsible manufacturing practices.
Both brands have set targets to reduce carbon emissions, water consumption, and waste generation.
Mango vs Zara- Online Presence
Both Zara and Mango are fast-fashion brands, customers need to see their new collections when they arrive. So both brands have invested heavily in their online presence- social media, search engine ads, web, and mobile apps.
Both brands have one of the most seamless web applications out there. With an easy-to-use, straightforward navigation system in place, they have been able to give their customers a smooth e-shopping experience.
While this is vital to your relevance in today’s fashion industry, to drive traffic to your website you must have a relatively strong social media presence. Zara has a strong social media reach of 57.9 million followers on Instagram, while Mango has 14.8M.
Conclusion
Both Mango and Zara are committed to designing quality fashion items at affordable prices. While Zara focuses on trendy fashion, while Mango focuses on chic and timeless pieces.
They are also both socially responsible brands, unlike most fashion retailers.
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