Top Zara model Vivienne Rohner poses in sleek, neutral-colors separates for the brand’s January 2024 drop, lensed by Hanna Tveite [IG].

Minor Anti-Zara, Atelier The Jacket Blowback

Stopping by Zara’s [IG], AOC notes that the FREE PALESTINE forces continue to punish the brand for allegations that it capitalized on Palestinian suffering with its recent Atelier campaign.

AOC is seeing a new refrain among the comments. Example:

A campaign you guys made as your own as if there weren't too many wars in the world for you to think you're the only ones suffering.

Based on early financial reports from Inditex, Zara had a terrific holiday 2023/4 season and Inditex raised its financial forecast in mid-December.

Zara Slower Sales Growth Offset with Big Profit Increase

Reuters reports that Inditex posted a 32.5% increase in net profit to $4.42 billion, for the nine-months to end-October, 2023. In the six weeks ending Dec. 11, Inditex posted a 14% increase in holiday sales.

Sales in stores and online gained 11%, slower than the 19% growth seen a year earlier.

The significant improvement in profits comes from Zara’s better goods strategy, accompanied by “cutting store numbers and investing in larger, more attractive stores, as well as improving its logistics to deliver online orders faster than rivals.”

ZARA Increases US Operations

Zara is increasing its investment in US operations, so significantly that Inditex founder Amancio Ortega, founder of Zara owner Inditex, acquired a warehouse in Hialeah, Florida. His investment firm Pontegadea reported in December the $113 million acquisition.

Zara is looking for a facilities and maintenance manager in Miami, on LinkedIn.

Spain-Portugal-North Africa to Miami Shipping Route

AOC pays close attention to Zara’s production of premium apparel in Spain, Portugal and increasingly North Africa.

As pro-Palestinian Houthi militants, based in Yemen, try to shut down shipping in the Red Sea, the Inditex pipeline from Southern Europe-North Africa to America might have positive attributes we don’t even understand in this moment.

Breaking today, 1/11/24 evening: US and UK launch strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen. A group of 12 nations is launching an ongoing attack on the Houthi, Iran-backed, pro-Palestinian militants, who are trying to knock out 15-20% of global trade into regions serviced by the Red Sea.

Besides the US and Britain, tonight’s air campaign against the Houthi rebels also included Australian, Bahrain, Canada and Netherlands logistics support.