Zara's focus on fast-tracking new fashions to store shelves has fueled tremendous growth; the thirtysomething-year-old chain now has more than 1,000 stores in 54 countries. Zara's parent, Inditex, has tripled sales since 2000, with Zara accounting for two-thirds of total revenues. Utilizing a lightning-quick production turnaround – as little as two weeks from conception to store delivery — Zara introduces 11,000 distinct clothing items annually, compared with an industry average of about 3,000. Now Zara is threatening to overtake long-time fast-fashion king H&M; Inditex reported 21% sales growth in 2005, with $8.15 billion in sales.
Laura Figueras (Barcelona, 1980) studied fashion at the Escuela des Artes y Technicas de la Moda in Barcelona and worked at Preen in London as well as designing lingerie for Women’s Secret during the earlie days of her own label Bambi by Laura. Laura won the MODAFAD price for best designer and her very first collection was picked up by HP France who became her distributor for the Japanese market. Bambi by Laura is also sold at Pineal Eye in London and Dernier Cri in New York for example. We love her sexy, sleak, sophisticated style.www.bambylaura.com
Madrid fashion week
If your dream is to explore Spain or Italy and you have your heart set to work in the fashion industry these posts will give you the chance to live and work in the fashion industry for a 3 to 6 month period which can be renewed at no extra cost. The post are in all areas of fashion like the VIP showrooms of major world-famous clothing designers, visual merchandising, marketing, purchasing, design, etc. The internship can be in Spain (Barcelona, Madrid) or Italy (Turin, Genova or Bologna).
These three pictures were shot today. One was shot in Spain, one in Iraq and one here in the United States. They couldn't more different in subject matter.Above, a model displays an autumn/winter design by Miguel Palacio during the Pasarela Cibeles fashion show in Madrid. Spain's top fashion show has turned away three British models because they are too thin. Organizers of the fashion shows used a mathematical formula to calculate the models' body mass index, a measure of their weight in relation to their height, and 30 percent of the women flunked, said the Association of Fashion Designers of Spain.