Zara, the famous clothing brand that is part of the Spanish conglomerate Inditex, has launched a global campaign to commemorate its 50th anniversary. Under the name “50 Years, 50 Icons,” the initiative pays tribute to five decades of the brand’s history through a campaign starring 50 iconic models from different generations, in an intergenerational runway show that celebrates fashion, diversity, and the legacy of Zara. The production was directed by legendary photographer Steven Meisel, a key figure in the rise of supermodels in the 1990s.
This campaign celebrates 50 years of a brand that has been constantly evolving. From its beginnings in 1975 to its global expansion, Zara has revolutionized the concept of fast fashion and has led trends worldwide.
READ ALSO. This is what the Lilo & Stitch Owala collection looks like! How much does it cost and when will it go on sale?
Who is part of the “50 Years, 50 Icons” campaign?
Zara’s new 50th anniversary campaign brings together an impressive group of 50 models of all ages and backgrounds. Among the participants are legends such as Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Twiggy, but also younger and currently relevant faces in the industry like Amelia Gray, Vittoria Ceretti, Lexi Boling, Paloma Elsesser, Candice Swanepoel, Doutzen Kroes, Karlie Kloss, and many more.
The goal of the campaign is to highlight Zara’s cross-generational appeal and its commitment to fashion that does not discriminate by age, style, or context. The production, set to the song “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer, aims to convey joy, glamour, and energy.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
The 50 Zara Models
This is the full list of the 50 models participating in the Zara campaign:
- Cindy Crawford
- Carolyn Murphy
- Karen Elson
- Linda Evangelista
- Rianne Van Rompaey
- Julia Nobis
- Liya Kebede
- Doutzen Kroes
- Edie Campbell
- Imaan Hammam
- Amar Akway
- Feifei Sun
- Mariacarla Boscono
- Natasha Poly
- Iselin Steiro
- Awar Odhiang
- Lexi Boling
- Paloma Elsesser
- Precious Lee
- Sasha Pivovarova
- Alek Wek
- He Cong
- Maty Fall
- Georgia Palmer
- Christy Turlington
- Lulu Tenney
- Penelope Tree
- Twiggy
- Sascha Rajasalu
- Joan Smalls
- Meghan Collison
- Naomi Campbell
- Eva Herzigova
- Sora Choi
- Amelia Gray
- Candice Swanepoel
- Adriana Lima
- Irina Shayk
- Vittoria Ceretti
- Karlie Kloss
- Caroline Trentini
- Mona Tougaard
- Rosalieke Fuchs
- Amber Valletta
- Lina Zhang
- Marisa Berenson
- Carla Bruni
- Yasmine Warsame
- Pauliine Porizkova
- Abbey Lee
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
What was the first Zara store and when did it open?
Zara’s story began on May 9, 1975, when Amancio Ortega, founder of Inditex, opened the first Zara store on Juan Flórez Street in A Coruña, Spain. This milestone transformed Confecciones GOA —the small garment workshop founded by Ortega in 1963— into a commercial clothing brand for women, men, and children.
Interestingly, the store was originally going to be called “Zorba,” inspired by the movie “Zorba the Greek,” but upon discovering that a shoe store in the same area already had that name, Ortega rearranged the letters to form the word “Zara.” What began as a boutique inspired by haute couture but with affordable prices quickly became a global powerhouse.
Who owns Zara?
Amancio Ortega is the creator and founder of Zara. In 1985, he formally structured the business under the name Inditex (Industria de Diseño Textil S.A.), which would later become one of the largest fashion groups in the world. Today, the Inditex conglomerate owns not only Zara, but also other well-known brands such as Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home, and Uterqüe.
Currently, the non-executive chair of Zara is Marta Ortega Pérez, daughter of Amancio Ortega, while the CEO of Inditex is Óscar García Maceiras.
What characterizes Zara’s 50th anniversary collection?
As part of the anniversary, Zara also launched a commemorative collection focused on sobriety and elegance. It is a minimalist proposal, in black and white, including fashion essentials such as:
- Little black dress and slip dresses
- Tailored suits and dress pants
- White shirts, simple blouses, and timeless coats
- Black leather pants and satin garments
- A commemorative T-shirt featuring the image of 50 models, available in black and white, with part of the proceeds going to Women’s Earth Alliance, an organization that promotes female environmental leadership.
This collection is inspired by Zara’s legacy of offering versatile, sophisticated, and accessible clothing for everyone.
How has Zara evolved over these 50 years?
Since the opening of its first store, the brand has experienced rapid expansion:
- 1988: First international store in Porto, Portugal.
- 1989-1990: Expansion to the USA (New York) and France (Paris).
- 1992-1999: Arrival in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, among others.
- 2003: Zara Home is born.
- 2010-2020: Presence in over 200 markets, including Australia, South Africa, Japan, and China.
- 2023: Launch of the Pre-Owned platform, a circular fashion initiative.
- 2025: Zara celebrates its presence in 98 physical markets and 214 with online sales, with over 2,000 active stores across five continents.
Zara has revolutionized the fashion world with its business model based on a quick response to trends, collections that change weekly, and agile and efficient production. This has defined what we now know as fast fashion.
What is the link between Zara and Inditex?
Inditex, the business group created by Amancio Ortega in 1985, is the parent company of Zara. Since its inception, Inditex has promoted a vertically integrated production model, allowing its brands —especially Zara— to control the entire chain: from design to distribution.
This full control enables unique creative flexibility in the industry and allows immediate responses to changes in consumer preferences. Additionally, Inditex has implemented a Strategic Environmental Plan, with stores prioritizing energy efficiency, responsible water use, and sustainability.
How has Zara impacted global consumer culture?
Zara has influenced not only clothing design and production, but also the way consumers interact with fashion. Thanks to its analysis of global trends, its digital platform zara.com, and its presence in the world’s main commercial avenues, the brand has created a fashion experience that combines physical and digital channels.
Its stores, located in iconic places such as Oxford Street in London or Ginza in Tokyo, merge architectural design, advanced technology, and cultural sensitivity, making each store a reference space for contemporary retail.
