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Before starting the collection I jumped straight into researching the trends for A/W 22/23 for children’s wear. This article on WGSN let me vision what prints I could use in the collection and it lead me to discover metaverse prints for the collection.

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Initially i really liked the idea of the abstract animal print. Although this print was not in my final collection this research was extremely valuable because it allowed me to understand what would and wouldn’t work in gender neutral collections.

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This was another trending print of children’s wear in A/W 22 that inspired my range. I have a block print hoodie in my range and the imagine on the top left was my inspiration for this. I feel that this print is defiantly a gender neutral print and was able to help me think of multiple ideas for the range.

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Whilst it is important to research on the trend I am doing it is also as important to do research on my USP - gender neutral. Therefore, I found this article really useful, it talks about how with the Gen - Z generation the fashion trends are becoming much more gender inclusive and a lot more brands are looking to offer gender inclusive clothing ranges which proved to me that this children’s gender neutral collection has the potential to be a great growth strategy for Zara.

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This is a graph that shows the growth in gender inclusive apparel in the UK and US from 2019-2022 from the same article I spoke about above. This graph shows that since the middle of 2020 there has been a rapid growth in gender inclusive apparel and it continues to be growing.

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Typically gender neutral ranges are called unisex ranges and that is what I was planning on calling the range “unisex zara kids” However, I came across this article on WGSN and it stated the term “Unisex” is actually decreasing in use for clothing ranges and gender neutral is becoming a much more popular term. I then decided to switch the name of my range to gender neutral rather than unisex.

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The graph shows the growth of specific clothing items for gender neutral clothing where this research really helped me when deciding which cads would work for gender neutral clothing because it was an extremely difficult task

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Fashion Trend Forecasting Agency for Fashion, Design and Creative Industry Professionals

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Trend stop was a new website I used for secondary research in this project. After deciding what I wanted to do and knew i needed to include prints and graphics in the range I struggled to find inspiration for this. However, trend stop really helped inspire me with  the graphic  designs for this range

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Trendstop Ltd - the Essential Fashion Trend Decoder

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Fashion Trend Forecasting Agency for Fashion, Design and Creative Industry Professionals

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Latest fashion trend forecasts, trend analysis and fashion retail store trends, street fashion trends, runway photos and catwalk trend reports, in-depth coverage of New York, London, Paris, Milan Fashion Weeks.

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Due to lack of predicted data for A/W 22 on children’s wear I used other predicted data such as women’s wear prediction to get an idea of what jackets where trending for A/W 22 which helped when i was looking for cads for my range of what to include and what not to include.

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This is a graph from the same article as above which includes more data on the trending forecasted jackets for A/W 22

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14 Stylish Gender-Neutral Clothing Brands For Kids

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When researching I came across this Forbes article on the growth of gender neutral clothing and how it is extremely beneficial for both the parent and the child and it makes it a much more seamless shopping experience because it allows more options for the children and allows them to wear what they want.

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In a time that champions self-expression, assigning blue and pink onesies to babies at birth feels a bit dated. As we move away from the idea that action figures are only for boys and tutus for girls, the loosening of gender stereotypes calls for children's clothing brands to follow suit.

Until recently, companies weren't paying much attention to creating unisex garb, with most of them clinging to the traditional roles that clothes often play. And while certain little girls may always gravitate toward frilly frocks, it's time to make space for the ones who prefer a sporty tracksuit or slouchy sweats. And the same goes for little boys-if he's pulled towards shades of peach and blush, it's time to offer a wider spectrum of options.

Unisex kids clothes are cooler than ever-including this adorable ensemble from sustainable ... [+]
Mon Coeur

Luckily, a new crop of gender-neutral baby clothes brands are making it easier for parents and kids alike to choose according to style (not conventions). The best part? The clothing and accessories are thoughtfully crafted (often made with sustainably sourced or organic materials), and durable enough to stand the test of playtime or be passed down to younger siblings or friends regardless of gender. Scroll down for our roundup of some of the best kids' clothing brands to shop now.

Petit Bateau: A French Classic That Never Gets Old

You may remember this classic French line from your own youth, which proves how truly timeless it is. Established in 1893, this legacy brand has continued to be a beloved choice among moms both stateside and abroad for its sweet styles that feel Parisian to the core. Unisex sherpa vests, fair isle jumpsuits and quilted cardigans join the brand's iconic striped onesie as the ultimate go-to baby gift for a newborn boy or girl. Mais oui.

Primary: Vibrant Clothes For A Colorful Life

With a focus on - you guessed it-bold, primary hues, this company is built around the idea that boys and girls should not be relegated to traditional gender-based colors, and that quality shouldn't come at a cost. The mission is to create a slogan-free brand that's soft, sustainable and fun to boot. We love the pajama section which promotes family unity through matching sleep sets (there's even one for pup). Whether you're feeling the kelly green, cherry red or rainbow-everyone here celebrates his or her color of choice.

Nununu: For The Kid Who Walks To His Own Beat

Stars, skulls and ninjas are cornerstones of Nununu's versatile loungewear. Highly mix-n-matchable harem pants and zip-up hoodies have a rocker edge that will give your child a stylish leg up on the playground. This unisex fuzzy rainbow sweatshirt is a cozy choice for playful winter afternoons.

forbes.com Nordstrom Promo Codes | 50% Off In December 2021 | Forbes

Mon Coeur: Sustainable Separates

Made in Portugal, Mon Coeur's commitment to sustainability and zero waste feels unparalleled. With most of the clothing spun from reclaimed organic cotton fiber, woven labels and decorative embroideries incorporated are crafted from up-cycled plastic bottles, while zippers come from post-consumer recycled yarns. And the look of the line is pure eco-hip (think: patch-stamped hoodies and "Earth Loving" denim that siblings can freely share).

Mini Rodini: The Cool Kid Brand Even Parents Covet

This whimsical Swedish kids' collection is the fashion darling of hipster parents all over the world. With an emphasis on funky prints and playful layering, children are encouraged to get creative when choosing his or her own outfit. Unisex standouts come in the form of faux fur aviators, UFO sweatshirts and terry tracksuits that are all so cool, you'll want everything in your size.

Bobo Choses: Bright, Bold And Style-Forward

Hipster parents (and kids) flock to this eternally cool brand from Barcelona that offers everything from bold printed confetti jumpers to quilted jogging pants with tons of unisex accessories in the mix (including belt pouches and bucket hats adorned with fun sayings). Known for using loud colors and lots of it, Bobo Choses is the ultimate go-to for fun family photo shoots and making a splash at gatherings. Added bonus: Grownups can get in on the action with the line's equally stylish adult collection.

Finn And Emma: Adorable Unisex Prints

While there are traditional boy and girl sections on their site, non-conforming parents will love Finn and Emma's devoted "Gender Neutral" baby section for its jungle prints, graphic tees and buttery cuffed leggings. The line is frill-free but not basic, meaning there's a silly saying for every mood. We also love the array of playful little masks-a mark of a modern brand.

Nico Nico: Timeless Style Meets Comfort

Designed and produced in downtown Los Angeles, Nico Nico is the brand SoCal moms turn to for its heavenly muted palette, free-flowing forms and next-level comfort for little ones who are eager to play. Known for gender-neutral basics like harem pants and wooly pullovers, this is a collection that truly speaks to parents who prioritize style as much as ease. And with dreamy shades like Thyme, Avocado and Thunder, it's easy to get swept up into the brand's little magical world.

Bash + Sass: Clothing With A Social Conscience

Minimalist moms will flip for this neutral line of comfy playwear. Each new collection focuses on a "monster with a meaning" that embodies a social value that resonates with the brand's core. Whether the theme is Boom, a monster who exudes confidence or Bae, a superhero with empathy, these clothes are not only playful enough for the park, but an opportunity to talk to your little one about feelings and emotions.

Lali: A Heritage Brand

Lali, which means "Little Darling" in Hindi, reflects the designer's Indian upbringing, with inspiration pulled from bright silk saris and fabric shops. The brand's current season's autumnal palette in shades like evergreen and chestnut feel perfectly at place in boys' and girls' closets alike. We love the reversible cabin quilted jackets and patchwork pants for pending chilly holiday park strolls.

Omamimini: California Cool With A Wintry Twist

Quilted puffy vests and corduroy dungarees are mainstays of this LA-centric brand that fuses Hollywood glam with Topanga Canyon chill. Tiny boys and girls alike will look Cali-cool in its dotted sweatshirts and plaid harem pants perfect for toddling around town. Older kids can layer work shirts or terry hooded jackets over tees in chillier months while a quilted bucket hat is a stand out accessory for kids fostering his or her own style from the get-go.

Moi Noi: Sporty With A Creative Spin

Sure, mini basketball jerseys are cute, but Turkish brand Moi Noi celebrates the sporty child in a whole new way. Asymmetric tracksuits, plaid button downs and diagonal zip bodysuits will summon both boys and girls to their favorite area of play (be it tree climbing, skateboarding or scaling the rock wall on the playground).

Monica And Andy: Classic, Cozy Styles

Conceived in the delivery room when the brand's founder was determined to create the safest fabrics for her newborn daughter, this collection is both organic and GOTS-certified. Along with the snuggly "groove pants" and basic hoodies, we can't get enough of the unisex grandpa cardigan which feels like a true throwback. Pair it with the brand's Brooklyn skinnies when you want baby to represent the best of what's old and new.

Lovely Littles: Neutrals That Are Far From Boring

Choosing a pink or blue onesie for a friend's newborn is a thing of the past, with Lovely Littles' gorgeous dusty palette of rust, oatmeal, slate and bone. This sustainable collection includes everything from ribbed hats in cider shades to leggings in ditsy floral prints. Tiny bloomers and bonnets round out the collection for one-stop gender-neutral baby gifting.

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best gender neutral children's clothing brands

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gender neutral children's clothing brands

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14 Stylish Gender-Neutral Clothing Brands For Kids

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In a time that champions self-expression, assigning blue and pink onesies to babies at birth feels a bit dated. As we move away from the idea that action figures are only for boys and tutus for girls, the loosening of gender stereotypes calls for children's clothing brands to follow suit.

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Due to the fact this will be Zaras first gender neutral range I knew I wanted to make it simple and include a lot of neutrals just because I’m not sure how the consumer will react to the trend so neutral colours may be better first to introduce it. I had a look on WGSN for neutral colour catwalk inspiration and came across this article from S/S 15 which although it isn’t forecasted trends it defiantly helped inspire the core of my range.

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Mark Kenley Domino Tan autumn/winter 2022 runway at Copenhagen Fashion week

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This article shows the Mark Kenley Domino Tan autumn/winter 2022 runaway. This was a neutral collection both men and women and was good inspiration for the range.

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Mark Kenley Domino Tan paints a picture of texture and tailoring in muscovado and chestnut browns for next season

This season, Mark Kenley Domino Tan invited guests for an artful affair at Denmark’s National Gallery. Models were framed against a backdrop of painterly works, while the fashion itself looked to the landscape paintings for inspiration. As a result, the colour palette mimics mother nature in autumn, with muscovado and chestnut browns, anthracite grey and camel offset with ivory and black.

The collection was an ineffable display of texture and tailoring. Stringent, architectural lines set against soft, organic forms, while signature styles of MKDT shift from the comfort zone of seasons' past to a more structured approach to daily dressing. For Tan himself, it is all about elevating and pushing the heritage pieces in new directions. “Why invent the wheel,” he says during his pre-show chat with Vogue Scandinavia.

As mentioned, textures set the tone for the brand’s autumn/winter 2022 collection. Weighty, oversized wool knits offer cocooning comfort, while a tiered midi skirt with ripples of linen, silk and cotton have the materials weave a playful impression. Delicate detailing in fringes and frayed hems gave the garments a handcrafted look. As always, MKDT’s sustainability lies within the timeless design, crafting a closet full of long-lasting pieces that survive season after season.

See the full collection below:

Mark Kenly Domino Tan AW22

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Mark Kenley Domino Tan autumn/winter 2022 runway at Copenhagen Fashion week

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Mark Kenley Domino Tan paints a picture of texture and tailoring in muscovado and chestnut browns for next season

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What It's Like to Make Gender-Neutral Clothing in Russia

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This article talks about the difficulties with gender neutral and problems faced in Russia with gender neutral clothing which is something to think about with the placement of the range and sourcing.

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In more-progressive parts of the world, genderless fashion is nothing new, but for a place steeped in conservatism, like Russia, the idea is still rather niche. Yet in the last year, the fashion trend has been more prevalent thanks to a group of emerging Russian fashion designers who see clothing as a subtle yet trenchant way to talk about gender expression and identity, something that was clear during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Russia earlier this month.

This year's attendees were exposed to a fashion movement that has been changing the fabric of the larger industry for a few years now, delivering a message of gender diversity and inclusion - something that isn't typically discussed or outwardly supported in Russia, a place known for its strict laws against the LGBTQ+ community.

In 2013, Russia put in place the "gay propaganda" law that banned the "promotion of nontraditional sexual relations to minors," limiting young people's access to pertinent information about the lives of LGBTQ+ people via the Internet and other media. Russian president Vladimir Putin said in a 2014 interview with the BBC that the law "does not harm anybody," but in 2017 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the law was illegal and a violation of freedom of expression.

Still, it's the law of the land throughout Russia and has been used as a means to stop gay-rights marches and the activists who lead them. Last August, 16-year-old LGBTQ+ activist Maxim Neverov became the first minor to be charged under the law after Russian authorities found photos of what he says was " guys hugging" saved to a photo album his on Vkontakte account, a Russian social media platform. He was found guilty and fined, but eventually he appealed and won his case, getting the fine overturned. In late March, teen actors and festival organizers were interrogated by authorities for running afoul of the law.

By putting men in traditionally feminine silhouettes, and not allowing age-old, nonprogressive views on masculinity and femininity to hold them back, emerging Russian designers are making critical statements about what could be possible for Russia's queer-identifying individuals. Could fashion help reshape a strict, conservative country that heavily relies on traditional gender norms?

Olya Volshebova is one of the fashion designers helping to push that message forward, launching her namesake label Volshebova in 2018. This year at Futurum Moscow, a fashion presentation for emerging designers in Russia, she showed her second collection, featuring exaggerated knitwear and puffer jackets in a range of pink hues. "Sometimes people get crazy that I dress boys in pink," she tells Teen Vogue a few days after her show.

While the designer likes to present her menswear-centric designs on mostly male bodies, she believes women can wear her styles, too. "You don't have to fit into gender roles; you can wear whatever you like," she says. Olya believes clothing can help people in her country be more accepting toward LGBTQ+ people.

A few days later, Olga Vasyukova, designer of the newly launched Russian brand Red September, presented her debut runway show with architecturally inspired, shoulder-pad-focused outerwear pieces that were paired with pants of different varieties on all different kinds of bodies.

"It is very important for me to erase the boundary between the feminine and masculine."

Olga says that when she was growing up in the post-Soviet era, there wasn't any talk about sexual orientation or gender identity. "Even the musicians who walked in leather leggings, feathers, and fur were not perceived as representatives of the LGBT [community], as people for the most part did not even admit that this might exist," she explains. Due to her experiences, Olga tells Teen Vogue that she designs "for all people" and makes a conscious effort not to label or place anyone into categories.

In her show this year, she put Russian transgender model Nika Kraush on the runway ("I perceive her solely as a girl who perfectly presented a part of the new collection"). Another male model wore a skirt over his jeans ("It suited him incredibly, and he felt absolutely comfortable").

Twenty-five-year-old designer Ekaterina Voronina, launched her namesake label, which is her first and last name in reverse, in 2016 with a menswear-focused collection, but her latest collection, "Molly's Tale," focuses on the blurring of traditionally accepted genders, including the fit of women's clothing on the male body. "[The] waist, sternum, and hands are underlined by voluminous silhouettes, and ... men's suit woolen fabrics [are combined] with airy tulle, complemented by an unexpected combination of a women's corset over a classic men's jacket," she explains.

It was when Ekaterina attended Polimoda, a private fashion school in Florence, that she was exposed to the idea that people should be free to wear whatever they want. Still, when asked if she thought that genderless clothing might encourage more people in Russia to see queerness more positively, Ekaterina stated, "I don't think so. Maybe it could inspire, but not as much as LGBTQ community would like to see it happening."

"We have oppression even inside [the LGBTQ+] 'community'," Nikita Kalmykov, the designer of Moscow's genderless fashion brand Atelier Odor tells Teen Vogue. "For example I was harassed by a gay guy with whom I once had a date. He sent my nudes and private videos to anyone who could somehow ruin my career."

The 27-year-old designer, who didn't show this season due to limited resources, says he was harassed by a Russian gay man with whom he had gone on a single date. Nikita believes that due to this, businesses across Russia refused to order and carry his clothes in their stores. As an openly bisexual man in a highly conservative country, the designer makes a point to makes a point to create clothes for all people, and not distinguish his designs by gender. "It's like a mirror of our inner freedom and personality," he says. "So I'm doing fashion for a 'person', and try to reflect my own vision of fashion and art in clothes without any prejudices."

Nikita, who prefers to wear skirts and long dresses, hasn't found much of an LGBTQ+ community in Russia, from growing up getting made fun of for the way he dressed until now. "Everyone lives for themselves," he says. He thinks that's because of fear of retaliation, and as a result most are not willing to try to change people's mindsets. And, due to the strictness of the current government, he doesn't think things will drastically change for queer people anytime soon, because the mainstream culture is still incredibly homophobic.

These strict views could be due to what Russian fashion stylist Vasilisa Gusarova described as the super masculine representation of power by Russian political leaders. According to Vasilisa, "Aggressive anti-LGBTQ moods are still very common ... [and] it is still risky to be queer here." She says there are no outward gay-friendly or even unisex stores in Moscow and in the rest of the country.

"I'm doing fashion for a 'person', and try to reflect my own vision of fashion and art in clothes without any prejudices."

On the last night of Russia Fashion Week, a massive crowd flocked to the runway show of 22-year-old rising star Roma Uvarov, who makes his clothing for everyone across the gender spectrum because he believes there should be no separation. Sending models of all varieties down the runway wearing turtleneck cable knit sweaters with ruffled collars and sleeves, see-through blouses printed with black-and-white images of Russian families, and even a puffer coat filled with dry pasta, Roma drew inspiration from retro Soviet kitchens, where people gathered and ate traditional foods together.

He launched his namesake label at age 19, after he says people told him they admired his personal style asked him to make clothes. While in his own life, Roma wants to wear skirts and dresses, he doesn't feel as though he would be understood in public, so he does photo shoots in the clothes and shares them online instead. "I can't go outside like this because I don't know how people would react," he says.

In fact, Russian fashion stylist Igor Andreev expressed over Instagram DM, "Anyone who experiments with their style and are not afraid of condemnation usually go by taxi," recalling a particular incident in which he saw a transgender person being publicly harassed and laughed at on the street by a group of men.

Still, Roma sees himself as an ambassador of change and believes that through his clothes, he might show people how things could be if they weren't so focused on restricting one's gender. "It is very important for me to erase the boundary between the feminine and masculine," he says.

In his mind, genderless clothing is a serious step toward bigger change. "I believe clothes not only make people feel more confident, but they could also help spark important conversations."

It is worth noting that a recent wave of Russian streetwear brands, such as Volchok and Outlaw Moscow, have made androgynous silhouettes more popular for both women and men in Russia in the last few years-styles Stephan Rabimov, a fashion critic and American journalist, says have become popular because they are easier to produce and have maximum "sales potential". But emerging designers like Roma and Ekaterina are pushing the dialogue several steps further. Only time will tell how these messages will change things in clothing, retail stores, marketing, and further beyond the barriers of Russia's fashion universe, and if in fact clothing can be a catalyst for changing people's mind-sets.

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What It's Like to Make Gender-Neutral Clothing in Russia

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In more-progressive parts of the world, genderless fashion is nothing new, but for a place steeped in conservatism, like Russia, the idea is still rather niche.

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This article was useful for my research as it is an article on forecasted trends for A/W Catwalks which helped when creating my trickled down inspiration

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theblondesalad.com is using a security service for protection against online attacks. This process is automatic. You will be redirected once the validation is complete.

Reference ID | IP Address | Date and Time
2d6d6849db4865a441771d9d44202011 | 35.239.130.108 | 05/23/2022 10:56 AM UTC

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This article talks about Zara’s demographics and where they lie in the market. Overall, just about how zara is so successful it such a saturated market.

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Zara is a Contemporary, fast-fashion retailer. It's demographics Consists of children and both men and women between the ages of 18 and 40 with a mid-range income.

Zara often targets Millennials and young adults who are fashion-forward and socially conscious.

Zara's success lies in its connectivity with its customers to create a sense of loyalty that later reflects on the success of each line they release. Their main focus is to pull the customer in and stay on top of their needs by adapting to societal changes with them.

Categories Posted on OpenLab

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Zara is a Contemporary, fast-fashion retailer. It's demographics Consists of children and both men and women between the ages of 18 and 40 with a mid-range income. Zara often targets Millennials and young adults who are fashion-forward and socially conscious.

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For my range I want it to also have the USP of sustainability because its competitors H&M are doing extremely well with this currently so with this range Zara need to complete successfully. In order to see where Zara need to go with sustainability I needed to see where they currently were. Good on you rates brands and how sustainable. Zara was rated not good enough and has a lot to improve on. Therefore this range will improve their sustainability with the materials used and the process of manufacturing.

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As one of the largest fashion retailers in the world, Zara has an opportunity to lead the way into a sustainable future. But just how ethical is Zara?

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Unisex Cotton Joggers (2-7 Yrs) | M&S Collection | M&S

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Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

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Unisex Cotton Joggers (2-7 Yrs) | M&S Collection | M&S

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Seamlessly blending sporty style and easy comfort, these cotton rich joggers are the essential active wear for kids

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Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

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Reference #18.2a34d517.1653405357.17dd8f70

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Plush joggers with an elastic waistband and adjustable drawstrings on the front. Front pockets. Cuffed hems.

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Whilst completing the comp shop I used edited to find out some data about each store compared to zara and here is my conclusions :

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Whilst completing my marketing mix and pricing architecture I needed to research more about Zaras pricing and what to do with the Pricing in this range. This article talks in detail about Zaras pricing strategy and why the strategy helps make Zara so successful.

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Psychological Pricing: 4 Strategies, Examples, Tactics

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After finding out Zara uses psychological pricing I needed to research into what that truly is and means to help decide if I did want to use that in this range

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Have you ever gone shopping and walked out of the store knowing that you just blew your budget? Come on, you can admit it; it's happened to everyone. Would you feel better if I told you it wasn't your fault? Well, it's true...sort of. Through a variety of psychological pricing strategies, stores are specifically designed to encourage you to spend more than you intend.

The techniques that retail stores use can also be very effective when applied to pricing in other industries. Let's dive deeper into four of the most popular ones that you can use to help increase your sales and hopefully avoid overspending at the mall ever again...and just for context - it's more than simply ending your prices in the number "9".

What is Psychological Pricing?

Psychological pricing is the business practices of setting prices lower than a whole number. The idea behind psychological pricing is that customers will read the slightly lowered price and treat it lower than the price actually is. An example of psychological pricing is an item that is priced $3.99 but conveyed by the consumer as 3 dollars and not 4 dollars, treating $3.99 as a lower price than $4.00.

4 Psychological pricing strategies

Psychological pricing techniques come in many forms. Here are four examples of psychological pricing strategies:

1. Artificial Time Constraints

If you've been to any retail establishment in the past few months, I almost guarantee that you've seen some form of a sales sign depicting "1 day only sales!" where everything is "50% off!!" If we had more time, we'd add in more exclamation points. Snarkiness aside, there always seems to be this urgency around these sales, which ironically happen every weekend in some fashion.

We're going to let you in on a little secret: The sales are always going to be there. Don't believe us? Look at how well JCPenny performed when they took them away.

These "1-Day only" signs are known as artificial time constraints. Stores place these restrictions on their sales because they act as catalysts for consumers to spend. If potential customers believe that the sales are only temporary, they're more likely to make their purchases today, rather than next week. Consumers are afraid of missing out on such an obvious deal, so they make the purchase in order to avoid this potential feeling of regret or missing out. Plus, they'll feel peer pressured to buy after seeing all of their fellow shoppers take advantage of this bargain.

There's great power in creating artificial demand. You can take advantage of this psychological fear when you're selling your own products, from shoes to enterprise software. Reverse the sales paradigm by branding your product as an exclusive, must-have item, and convince potential customers to sell you on why they're a good fit for your product or service. Essentially, go back to your high school dating days and play hard to get. By doing so, you'll create this urgency and fear in your prospects that they're missing out on not only the next big product or trend, but that product at a great price. Be careful though, don't go too deep onto the discount pricing wagon. You want to make sure this lever reinforces, not deteriorates, your brand.

2. Charm Pricing

Charm pricing is the official (read fancy) name for all those 9's that you see at the end of prices in your local stores. Studies done by researchers at MIT and the University of Chicago have proven that prices ending in 9 create increased customer demand for products. This psychological phenomena is driven by the fact that we read from left to right, so when we encounter a new price at $1.99, we see the 1 first and perceive the price to be closer to $1.00 than it is to $2.00. In essence, ending your price in a 9 convinces customers that you're offering a great deal.

Feel free to take advantage of this fact in your pricing. If your price is originally $100, try selling it for $99 and see if there is a difference in your sales. NOTE: This is different from A/B testing to find your pricing, as here you already know your optimal price point and are using A/B testing to find the optimal design of your pricing page.

The prevalence of charm pricing has created the opposite effect as well. While prices ending in 9 connote a "value price", prices ending in 0 now connote a "prestigious price." So, if you're selling a "high-class" product, like a diamond ring, you might be better served ending your price with a 0 to give your customers the impression that they're paying for something that is expensive and worthwhile. For a great example take a look at most of the sales on Gilt Groupe's flash sales - all of the before prices will end in 0s or 5s while the after prices will end in 7s, 8s, and 9s.

3. Innumeracy

Which do you think is a better deal? "Buy one get one free" or "50% off a two items?" According to a study done by researchers at the University of Minnesota, most people would prefer the first option, even though the two options are identical (buying two items at 50% off is the same as paying full price for one and getting the second free).

This phenomenon is known as innumeracy, where consumers are unable to recognize or understand fundamental math principles as they apply to everyday life. (Those high school math classes are coming back to haunt you now.) Other ways that innumeracy appears in pricing include double discounting, coupon design, and percentage pumping. These topics are covered in more detail in our post on innumeracy.

4. Price Appearance

The design of your prices can also have a tremendous impact on how customers perceive the value of your product. Next time you go to a fancy restaurant, look at the prices. Most likely they will be in a smaller font and won't have the added zeroes at the end. They'll look like "19", instead of "$19.00".

There's a reason for this type of design. Longer prices appear to be more expensive for consumers than shorter prices, even if they represent the same number. This is because subconsciously, the longer prices take more time to read. This effect is compounded by the use of a "$" sign for prices. Not only does it make the price longer, but it also firmly relates the number to consumers' wallets, which exacerbates the pain of parting with their hard earned cash. Similarly, prices with more syllables appear more expensive because consumers pronounce prices in their heads and it takes longer to recite extended numbers.

This is an easy tactic to employ for your pricing as well. Omit the "$" signs from your pricing and if you're pricing at a whole number, forget the ".00" as well. If you're trying to combine this tactic with charm pricing, consider making the ".99" very small compared to your main price.

Remember, these tactics are the last inch, not the whole foot

With a psychological pricing strategy you can provide a psychological impact that delivers a sense of urgency. You can change the perception of your pricing by adding an odd number, anchor prices, and a handful of other tactics. The most important part about this is that you must convey the value of your product.

Your price is how you convey your value to your customers, and this communication hinges on your customers' perceptions of your pricing, which you must measure using science, not your gut instinct. No amount of these psychological tips and tricks will make up for improperly set prices in the first place.

Also keep in mind, the decision to use these strategies is up to you. Some may see these techniques as taking advantage of consumers' inherent mathematical and psychological weaknesses, while others may find them to be an essential part of everyday business.

Regardless, the lesson here is to be transparent and open with your customers. The worst thing you can do is to leave your customers feeling tricked after they buy your product, because then, not only will they never return, but they will also tell everyone they know not to buy your products either (or even worse, post a bad review on Yelp!). All of that being said, look for these tactics being used on you as you venture out into the consumer world. Don't be fooled, and happy pricing!

To learn more about pricing specifics, check out our Pricing StrategyPricing Page Bootcamp, or learn more about our price optimization software. We're here to help!

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Psychological Pricing: 4 Strategies, Examples, Tactics

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Have you ever gone shopping and walked out of the store knowing that you just blew your budget? Come on, you can admit it; it's happened to everyone. Would you feel better if I told you it wasn't your fault? Well, it's true...sort of.

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Number of Zara and Zara Home stores, by region worldwide 2020 | Statista

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For my merchandising mix I had to decide how much of the range and what parts of the range I wanted in certain locations. This graph helped me because it allowed me to see where about Zaras stores are and how many they have.

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Zara started out in Spain, with the first store opened there in 1975. Zara has since grown to become a globally recognized apparel brand, with retail stores distributed all over the globe. As of January 2022, the Inditex Group, Zara's owner, operated 321 Zara stores and 56 Zara Home stores throughout the Americas.
Rise of Zara stores around the world
Zara is the flagship brand of the Inditex Group, whose other brands include Bershka, Pull & Bear, and Zara Home. The first international market which Zara expanded into was neighboring Portugal. However, this was followed by the opening of a store in the United States soon after. In the years that followed, Zara stores popped up throughout Europe, North America, and the rest of the world. The first Zara Home store was opened in 2003, focusing more on the homewares and home furnishings market. As of January 2022, there were over 2,000 Zara stores and over 500 Zara Home stores in operation around the world. Unsurprisingly, Zara was one of the most valuable clothing brands on the planet as of 2021.

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Number of Zara and Zara Home stores, by region worldwide 2022 | Statista

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Zara started out in Spain, with the first store opened there in 1975.

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20 Astonishing Zara Statistics That Show the Brand's Value | FashionDiscounts

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This article just talks in general about Zaras and more statics about them. This was valuable at the start of my project to help learn more about Zara before starting the range building.

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20 Astonishing Zara Statistics That Show the Brand's Value | FashionDiscounts

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Zara is among the most famous fast-fashion retailers in the world. Its shopper visit frequency is three times higher than...

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I used this bag Zara currently have on their website and the inspiration for the back pack in my range. I wanted to use something Zara has already done well but put it in the gender neutral range with a different style.

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Mini backpack in contrast colours. Main compartment and front pocket. Zip closure. Height x Length x Width 21 x 19 x 10 cm. / 8.2 x 7.4 x 3.9″

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Before I worked on my sourcing strategy for Zara I wanted to research what Inditex do for sourcing. This article talks through Inditex Zaras family brand sourcing strategy i used this to guide me through Zaras.

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Zara: Inside the brand that changed fashion

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This article was useful to just learn a bit more about Zara it talks about several topics relating to Zara including : customer decisions, long term relations, recycled plastics.

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I am seeing spots. More specifically polka dots, on a white maxi dress. Three women have walked by me - all wearing the same identical dress - in the half hour I've been sitting outside this café. I know it's from Zara, I've tried it on, and now I'm seeing those spots everywhere.

It is the dress of the summer, another viral Zara fashion statement, complete with a dedicated Instagram account set up by fans.

Just one sign of how the Spanish clothing giant is bucking the trend of many of its struggling High Street competitors and posting record sales.

Considering the success and size of the company, it might be thought of as a bit of an enigma. It doesn't advertise, it does little marketing and its boss, who was named best performing chief executive in the world by a business magazine last year, has not given any big interviews, until now.

Pablo Isla recently laid out plans for Zara's future and said it was all about a digital and sustainable transformation. But is it possible for a company to be sustainable, when the entire business is about getting shoppers to buy as much fashion as possible?

'No contradiction'

Speaking at their campus-like headquarters in northern Spain, Pablo Isla, the chairman of Zara and its parent company Inditex, tackled the sustainability issue.

"There is no contradiction at all between sustainability and profitability of the company," he says.

"In the next year, all our stores in the world will be efficient - this means their consumption of energy and water is significantly lower. If your energy consumption is 20% less, you have a return."

In fact some of the key ways in which the business works helps with its sustainability goal. Mr Isla explains that Zara works with a "low level of inventory".

This helps the retailer minimise waste and avoid discounting huge amounts of clothing.

On my tour of the headquarters, I walk past rows of desks where staff are analysing instant data from Zara's store managers.

They use this information to decide what to make each week - Zara's factories will only make what they know will sell. Most of Zara's clothes are manufactured at its sites in Spain or in nearby Portugal, Morocco and Turkey.

'Long-term relations'

One of the key factories producing Zara's womenswear is just next to the head office. This way of working is all about speed, which allows Zara to get fresh trends into stores before their competitors.

But it hasn't always meant being able to keep a close eye on standards. Two years ago, some Zara customers in Turkey found notes in clothes from workers saying they hadn't been paid and asking for them to back calls for better working standards. When asked about it, Mr Isla says working with these suppliers was an "evolution".

He says "the most important thing is the idea of long-term relations with our suppliers" when it comes to keeping an eye on working conditions.

Fashion Revolution is an independent organisation which monitors where clothes come from and how ethical they are. They say Zara needs to provide more information about where their clothes are made to be held accountable for standards.

"Inditex, which owns Zara, remains one of the major fashion retailers that is dragging its feet on publishing a list of its manufacturers," says Fashion Revolution policy director Sarah Ditty.

"Other brands have published a list and proved that doing so doesn't hurt them competitively. "

Recycled plastics

Back at headquarters, I wander through the pilot store built on-site - a perfectly-kept Zara shop where everything is in place - but there are no shoppers. This is where Zara test how everything should look and feel, from lighting to displays.

They are aiming to reach zero waste in store - all packaging is made from recyclable cardboard and plastic. Recycling is a big theme for the clothes too.

They have been working with the renowned US university MIT to develop ways of making fabric from recycled plastics. I take the opportunity to feel the texture of some of the latest recycled plastic clothes from their sustainable line. The cloth feels silky to the touch.

Mr Isla has committed to 100% of the cotton, linen, and polyester used by Zara - and all of its sister companies - being organic, sustainable, or recycled by 2025.

Sarah Ditty from Fashion Revolution says that while it is great to see Zara taking steps to incorporate more sustainable material into its ranges, it is essential action that all brands should be taking.

However, she highlights that the real issue is all about the sheer volume of clothes they make.

Inditex reported putting over 1.5 billion products on the market in 2017 alone. Even with more environmentally-friendly materials, producing that many items each year is unsustainable for our living planet.

How much clothing we buy is a marker of just how much the industry has grown and changed in a short space of time. The UK has the highest rate of consumption in Europe, at 27.6kg per person per year.

Customer decisions

Indeed, Zara has an enormous turnaround, fashion influencer Jasmine Jonas tells me.

"I feel confident walking into a Zara, [being] able to find something that will look good, fit well, and that I can afford. But across the board, demand for eco-conscience clothing is rising."

It's not just Fashion Revolution - many campaigners say the only way to truly tackle sustainability in fashion is to make and sell less.

But how can that be a solution for Zara and Inditex if they want to keep those record-breaking sales?

"It's always the customers' decision of how much do they buy of each particular product," says Mr Isla.

"I think our responsibility as a company is taking care of manufacturing our products in a very sustainable way. Each customer, each person, is free to decide how much would he or she like to buy at any point in time, if this person wants to spend money going to a restaurant or buying clothes... this is the freedom that each person has."

"Should I, shouldn't I?" is the age-old changing room debate, but does it take on a new dimension if, as Pablo Isla says, it is ultimately in shoppers' hands to decide the crucial sustainability issue?

In the meantime, Zara says it will do what it can to keep the environmental conundrum for customers to a minimum.

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Zara uncovered: Inside the brand that changed fashion

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How is the Spanish clothing giant able to buck the trend of many of its struggling High Street competitors?

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Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

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The pros and cons of manufacturing in China - Red Points

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For my sourcing strategy my long long time country was India and China so I researched what the benefits of sourcing from these places where and how it benefits Zara to help with my sourcing strategy

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Outsourcing manufacturing in China can help your brand level up quicker and grow to new levels. But it's important to understand the pros and cons of manufacturing in China before you decide to take the plunge.

The upsides include cheaper production cost, faster production, international expansion, and service quality. Downsides include communication difficulties, IP risk, high order minimums, complex logistics, and quality control issues.
Summary

Manufacturing in China can be advantageous for many businesses

Companies should consider the downsides before jumping into an agreement

Businesses also need to take care to safeguard their IP

Pro: Lower production costs

One of the most well-known advantages of manufacturing in China is that it's cheaper than making goods in many other countries. Lower Chinese manufacturing costs translate into better margins and lower prices for the end user. Your brand's gross profit can increase with the lower cost of production.

When your products compete against others on the physical or digital shelf, a lower price can persuade many people to buy. Even factoring in shipping costs, it's still usually cheaper to manufacture in China.

Pro: Faster production and scalability

Improving your speed to market can help your company maintain a competitive advantage. There's no other place on earth with so many factories (and workers) ready to prototype and produce new products at the drop of a hat.

You can also increase your production volume output to meet demand easily. For example, if your product is showcased on a popular shopping website, you can scale up production to cover a deluge of new orders without disappointing customers.

Pro: International expansion

The Asian market is growing rapidly. If you want to expand and offer products to buyers in Asian markets, what better way than doing business in China by starting your manufacturing operations there? When done correctly, Chinese market expansion can multiply opportunities for companies. The logistics of introducing products into China and other Asian nations are also streamlined when you use Chinese factories.

Pro: Service for smaller brands

Many manufacturers in the United States simply prefer to work with brands that have secured large distribution contracts or that have viral followings. In reality, not every business wins Shark Tank. It can be hard for smaller companies or conceptual products to get attention from stateside manufacturers.

Chinese manufacturers, on the other hand, are often very willing to work with small and unknown companies, as long as order minimums are met. You don't have to have a brand like Nike to get good service from a Chinese manufacturer.

Con: Communication difficulties

On a basic level, difficulties can come from the language barrier. Chinese is a hard language to learn for many westerners, and it's not a language you can just pick up from airport pamphlets. Manufacturing partners usually have some level of English, but it's not good to rely on that for agreeing on complex manufacturing contracts. Using a translator can be indispensable.

Con: Intellectual property risks

Another issue to be aware of is intellectual property in China. The country has made improvements in recent years, but some issues remain. Factories still exist that would like to steal your company's IP and either copy or slightly modify your product and then compete with you.

Companies should register their trademarks with the Chinese Trademark Office in both domestic and Chinese language spellings. They should also invest in IP protection tools to monitor possible infringements. Intellectual property protection costs far outweigh the risks of losing reputation, revenue, and customers to fakes or companies that have stolen your designs.

Con: High minimum order quantities

Another downside of working with the Chinese manufacturing industry is that factories can have high order minimums. This is because they often have slim margins and rely on economies of scale. You may have to look elsewhere if you want one-off or small productions.

Con: Complex logistics

While the landed cost of an item made in China and shipped to the US can often be cheaper than a domestic product, you still have to deal with more complex logistics. Products can take a long time to get to the end user-up to 30 days by sea. You may want to have a distribution hub on home soil, but that adds to your cost.

Also, if you sell out of a certain item, your next shipment may be 30 days out. That can be disappointing for customers. You can always ship items by air from China, but you'll have to figure out the cost on that as well.

Con: Quality control issues

The "Made in China" label has had negative connotations in the past. Many people are familiar with inferior counterfeits that represent a shell of the original product and fall apart upon use. However, you can find high-quality manufacturers in China today.

The key is to enforce quality standards at each point in the manufacturing process and not to assume that the first product run will be exactly like the prototype. Also, some product categories may be more prone to quality issues than others. It's a good idea to work with an agent in China who will monitor quality control.

Conclusion

Deciding whether or not to move manufacturing to China takes careful consideration. Manufacturing needs are different for every company, and it always pays to hire a professional domestic agent who has experience and can help you avoid pitfalls and horror stories.

It's essential to create detailed manufacturing contracts to avoid intellectual property issues, as well. Once your company is selling products, you can keep an eye on your IP with a brand protection platform like Red Points. Our platform uses AI to uncover and take down threats so you can reap the benefits of manufacturing in China. Download our product guide to see how.

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The pros and cons of manufacturing in China - Red Points

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Outsourcing manufacturing in China can help your brand level up quicker and grow to new levels. But it's important to understand the pros and cons of manufacturing in China before you decide to take the plunge. The upsides include cheaper production cost, faster production, international expansion, and service quality.

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What is Cotton Fabric: Properties, How its Made and Where

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From my primary research questionnaire there was a lot of feedback on how they wish there was more recyclable cotton clothing for children. Therefore, I went away to and researched more about  cotton and how i can make it prominent in the range.

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What Is Cotton Fabric?

Cotton fabric is one of the most commonly used types of fabrics in the world. This textile is chemically organic, which means that it does not contain any synthetic compounds. Cotton fabric is derived from the fibers surrounding the seeds of cotton plants, which emerge in a round, fluffy formation once the seeds are mature.

The earliest evidence for the use of cotton fibers in textiles is from the Mehrgarh and Rakhigarhi sites in India, which date to approximately 5000 BC. The Indus Valley Civilization, which spanned the Indian Subcontinent from 3300 to 1300 BC, was able to flourish due to cotton cultivation, which provided the people of this culture with readily available sources of clothing and other textiles.

It's possible that people in the Americas used cotton for textiles as long ago as 5500 BC, but it's clear that cotton cultivation was widespread throughout Mesoamerica since at least 4200 BC. While the Ancient Chinese relied more on silk than cotton for the production of textiles, cotton cultivation was popular in China during the Han dynasty, which lasted from 206 BC to 220 AD.

While cotton cultivation was widespread in both Arabia and Iran, this textile plant didn't make its way to Europe in full force until the late Middle Ages. Before this point, Europeans believed that cotton grew on mysterious trees in India, and some scholars during this period even suggested that this textile was a type of wool that was produced by sheep that grew on trees.

The Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, however, introduced Europeans to cotton production, and the European countries quickly became major producers and exporters of cotton along with Egypt and India.

Since the earliest days of cotton cultivation, this fabric has been prized for its exceptional breathability and lightness. Cotton fabric is also incredibly soft, but it has heat retention attributes that make it something like a mixture of silk and wool.

While cotton is more durable than silk, it is less durable than wool, and this fabric is relatively prone to pilling, rips, and tears. Nonetheless, cotton remains one of the most popular and highly produced fabrics in the world. This textile has relatively high tensile strength, and its natural coloring is white or slightly yellowish.

Cotton is very water absorbent, but it also dries quickly, which makes it highly moisture wicking. You can wash cotton in high heat, and this fabric drapes well on your body. However, cotton fabric is relatively prone to wrinkling, and it will shrink when washed unless it is exposed to a pre-treatment.

Buy high-quality, low-priced cotton fabric here . If you are UK based, you can buy ithere .

How Is Cotton Fabric Made?

Cotton fabric producers derive this textile from the fibrous protective casing that surrounds cotton seeds, which is called a boll. While cotton seeds themselves are quite small, the bolls that encase them can be larger than the end of your thumb.

To make cotton fabric, producers must first separate the cotton seed from the boll. In the past, this step was done by hand, but in 1794, American entrepreneur Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, which is a mechanical device that greatly expedites the cotton separation process.

These days, automated forms of the cotton gin exist that make the process even easier for human workers. Machines can harvest cotton bolls from agricultural fields, and other machines can then separate the seeds from the bolls.

Cotton production begins in the spring when cotton seeds are planted. In most cases, automated machines plant cotton seeds in 10 or more rows simultaneously. Seedlings emerge within approximately seven days, and mature cotton bolls appear within 55 to 80 days.

Prior to machine harvesting, human workers are generally required for defoliation, which is the process of removing the leaves from cotton plants. Next, a single machine harvests the amount of cotton that 50 people could pick, and this same machine removes large contaminants from the cotton fibers and forms it into bales.

High-efficiency automated cotton gins can process up to 60 raw cotton bales weighing 500 pounds each in the space of an hour. These gins remove the seeds from cotton bolls, and they also remove any dirt or trash from the cotton.

Once cotton has been cleaned to the extent that it consists of pure cotton fibers without any seeds or trash, it is transferred to a textile production facility. At this facility, the raw cotton is carded, which is the process of forming cotton fibers into long strands. Next, these strands are spun to create yarn.

At this stage, the basic material used in cotton fabrics is complete. This cotton yarn may then be subjected to a variety of chemical treatments, and it may be dyed. Next, it is woven into a particular type of textile material such as a bedsheet, T-shirt, or pair of blue jeans.

Shop a wide variety of cotton fabrics here for US and rest of worldhere andhere if you are UK based.

How Is Cotton Fabric Used?

Approximately 75 percent of the world's clothing products contain at least some amount of cotton. In sheer numbers, cotton is the most widely used textile fiber in the world, and manufacturers can spin this fabric into a myriad of different types of products.

For instance, most T-shirts contain at least some amount of cotton, and true blue jeans are 100 percent cotton. This fabric is used to make bathrobes, bathmats, and towels, and it is also used to make bedsheets, blankets, and duvets. Manufacturers may even use cotton to make curtains, wall-hangings, and other types of home decorations.

Since cotton is highly breathable and absorbent, it is commonly used to make warm-weather clothing. Its softness makes it a good option for formal and business wear, and its notable draping abilities make it an ideal fabric for dresses.

Manufacturers use cotton to make medical supplies, and this fabric is also used to make industrial thread and tarps. In summation, cotton can be used to make practically any type of textile for consumer or industrial use.

Where Is Cotton Fabric Produced?

India and China are frequently tied as the largest cotton producers in the world. According to Statista, India overtook its East Asian competitor between 2017 and 2018 by producing 6,205,000 metric tons of cotton. For comparison, China produced 5,987,000 metric tons of cotton fiber during this same period.

At 4,555,000 metric tons, the USA is the next-largest producer of cotton. While these three nations produce the vast majority of the world's cotton, other nations, such as Brazil, Pakistan, and Australia consistently produce more than 1 million metric tons of this fiber per year.

How Much Does Cotton Fabric Cost?

According to IndexMundi, raw cotton costs approximately $0.75 per pound. However, these prices are subject to constant change. Cotton costs significantly more once a producer has formed it into yarn, and its price increases again once this fiber is made into a final product.

Comparatively speaking, cotton is one of the least expensive textile fibers in the world, which has contributed to its popularity. However, the cheapest cotton is cotton that has not been produced sustainably, and better forms of cotton cost much more.

For instance, forms of extra-long-staple cotton are significantly more expensive than traditional short-staple cotton. Examples of extra-long-staple cotton include Egyptian cotton and Pima cotton. These types of cotton cost more for manufacturers to produce, and they also cost more at the consumer level.

What Different Types of Cotton Fabric Are There?

There are four distinct species of cotton that are used to make cotton fabric. In addition, there are several sub-varieties of cotton fabric that are made from these plant species:

Cotton Plant Varieties

1. Gossypium hirsutum

This type of cotton is the most widely-produced form of this textile crop. It accounts for 90 percent of the world's cotton production, and it is native to Central America and the nations surrounding the Caribbean Sea.

Over the years, traders have exported this type of cotton to practically every location throughout the world, and it grows well in practically any climate. Gossypium hirsutum is a short-staple (SS) cotton fiber, which means that it is not as high-quality as other forms of this textile fiber.

2. Gossypium barbadense

Gossypium barbadense is an extra-long-staple (ELS) cotton variety, which means that it consists of longer cotton fibers that produce softer and more luxurious textiles. This type of cotton accounts of 8 percent of the world's cotton production, and it is significantly more expensive than Gossypium hirsutum.

This ELS cotton variation is native to South America, and it has been exported to a variety of locations throughout the world. For instance, Pima cotton is a form of Gossypium barbadense, and producers cultivate this type of cotton in China, India, and other foreign nations.

3. Gossypium arboretum

While most types of cotton grow on small bushes, Gossypium arboretum grows on larger bushes that could almost be considered to be trees. This type of cotton accounts for less than 2 percent of global production.

4. Gossypium herbaceum

Also known as Levant cotton, this type of fiber is native to Africa and Arabia, and it contributes less than 2 percent to global cotton cultivation.

Cotton Fabric Varieties

1. Short-staple cotton

Short-staple (SS) cotton is any type of cotton that consists of fibers that are up to 1.125 inches long. While this type of cotton is great for everyday use, it isn't as soft as other types of cotton.

2. Long-staple cotton

Long-staple (LS) cotton is any type of cotton that consists of fibers that are between 1.125 and 1.25 inches long. This type of cotton is somewhat more luxurious than SS cotton.

3. Extra-long-staple cotton

Extra-long staple (ELS) cotton is any type of cotton that consists of fibers that are longer than 1.25 inches. ELS cotton is the most luxurious and soft type of cotton in existence.

4. Egyptian cotton

Egyptian cotton is a term that refers to certain forms of either LS or ELS cotton. Giza 45 cotton, for instance, is over 45 millimeters (1.77 inches) long, which makes it one of the longest and most luxurious varieties of cotton in existence.

5. Pima cotton

Pima cotton is a type of ELS cotton that was created through a partnership between the U.S. government and the Pima Indians in the early 20th century. It is considered to be one of the most durable forms of cotton.

6. Supima cotton

Supima cotton is a type Pima cotton that has received the blessing of the American Supima Association (ASA). To be considered "Supima," Pima cotton can only be grown in the United States with organic cultivation practices.

How Does Cotton Fabric Impact the Environment?

Cotton production is inherently non-impactful on the environment. Since this type of textile is a natural fiber, it is biodegradable, and it doesn't fill up waterways or contribute to other forms of pollution.

However, the practices that manufacturers use to make cotton may be harmful to the environment. Cotton cultivation requires a huge amount of water, and producing this textile may also involve land repurposing.

Since most cotton producers focus on cultivating the largest amount of fiber possible at the lowest cost, they don't properly care for the land they use for cultivation. As a result, cotton cultivation frequently depletes the soil in the areas where it is grown.

Most cotton producers worldwide resort to agrochemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers, to grow their crops. These harmful chemicals run off into the surrounding water, poison the soil, and end up being present in potentially dangerous concentrations in end products.

In the vast majority of instances, cotton cultivation is an exploitative practice in which international corporations take advantage of poor, uneducated people in third-world countries to produce these fibers. This practice is harmful to communities, and it supports a cycle of poverty that results in reduced life expectancy and multiple succeeding generations of servitude.

It's possible, however, to cultivate cotton with organic means. Organic cultivation processes do not involve any artificial pesticides or fertilizers, which reduces the environmental impact of the production of this textile fiber.

To be certified as organic, cotton cultivators must also promote sustainability within the communities where they operate. Workers who produce organic cotton must be compensated fairly, and environmental degradation must be kept to a minimum. Certain kinds of cotton, such as Supima cotton, are only available in organic forms.

Cotton Fabric Certifications Available

A variety of certifications are available to cotton producers. For instance, the European Union's organic standards organization can certify cotton as organic, as can the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Another company known as OEKO TEK also certifies organic textiles. Plus, all Supima cotton is organic, and an organization called the American Supima Association (ASA) must certify Pima cotton for it to be considered Supima.

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What is Cotton Fabric: Properties, How its Made and Where

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Cotton fabric is one of the most commonly used types of fabrics in the world. This textile is chemically organic, which means that it does not contain any synthetic compounds. Cotton fabric is derived from the fibers surrounding the seeds of cotton plants, which emerge in a round, fluffy formation once the seeds are mature.

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Benefits of India Sourcing | NM India Sourcing

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For my sourcing strategy my long long time country was India and China so I researched what the benefits of sourcing from these places where and how it benefits Zara to help with my sourcing strategy

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If your organization sources globally direct and indirect goods & services in large quantities, India sourcing could be a good alternative for you. Whether you are a new buyer or existing buyer, we help you identify the best vendors, negotiate rates to fit your budget, conduct in-process quality checks, through the entire order life cycle. These sourcing services can benefit from a significant reduction in cost, time and business risk. Our expertise in sourcing will help you obtain the widest range of products and services from the best supplier in the shortest time.

At NM India Sourcing, we have a strong and integrated team of experienced procurement and supply chain management professionals who will help improve every aspect of your sourcing activity and transform the way you import from India. We offer customized as well as end to end '' sourcing India services '' to deliver measurable value with the best, cost-effective solutions for your business. Our team has helped the business from small to large companies can leverage the benefits of India Sourcing. Take advantage of the skilled talent pool of NM India Sourcing experts and enjoy a hassle-free procurement experience today and tomorrow.

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Benefits of India Sourcing | NM India Sourcing

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If your organization sources globally direct and indirect goods & services in large quantities, India sourcing could be a good alternative for you. Whether you are a new buyer or existing buyer, we help you identify the best vendors, negotiate rates to fit your budget, conduct in-process quality checks, through the entire order life cycle.

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Benefits Of Turkey Sourcing | Dragon Sourcing

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Zara sources from Turkey so when figuring out what short lead country to use for sourcing I needed to research the benefits of sourcing in Turkey and why Zara do this

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Turkey is a country located in the middle east. The country has a very unique geographic position as it partly lies in Europe and partly in Asia. Over the last decade, Turkey has highly increased its economic performance and got integrated into the globalized world. The country has some favourable fiscal policies and very sound macroeconomic strategies along with structural reforms. Due to the abundant opportunities in the country, Turkey procurement has caught the eyes of many global investors. Buying goods directly is an easy process but procurement requires you to find the right suppliers at the right price and right location. Every company wants to save cost from overhead while establishing operations.

Though Turkey is a Muslim country, it has adopted the western style of democracy. This makes the country a perfect ally to the western countries who are planning to deal with the Muslim world in the middle east. Because of its strategic location, Turkey helps to form a business link between its manufacturers and the European market. This makes it a very lucrative hub for investments made by the western MNCs. The business culture in the country is very close to the West which makes Turkey a good sourcing market as compared to other Asian countries. Turkey has a very large domestic market and a Turkish based market started by the Ottoman empire. Turkish companies can easily tap into this consumer market comprising millions of people.

What Makes Turkey a sourcing Hub?

Turkey has gained a lot of attention from large corporates in western Europe. Turkey industry mainly includes automotive systems, mechanical components and construction materials. As a large number of companies are hiring Turkey procurement experts, the industrial strength of the country is steadily increasing. The demand for international outsource partners has grown over time. Turkey has a good number of companies which will help you to increase your revenue while cutting down on the cost. Sourcing services mainly target at accelerating the production process and speed up the company's timeline effectively.

Nowadays, outsourcing has become more of a competitive necessity and less of strategic advantage. In this highly competitive business world, every company is looking for innovative ways to minimize cost, improve the quality of products and ensure a faster time to market. This is why the demand for international outsourcing partners has increasingly grown over the years. Procurement might prove to be the most important link in the supply chain of any company. So, it is very crucial to select the right procurement services provider for your business to run smoothly. Some of the benefits of sourcing from Turkey are as follows:

● Cost Savings -

Turkey is a low-cost country and all the goods and services are available at a relatively cheaper rate than the western countries. If you source materials or services from this country, your business will be able to cut down cost in every aspect. There will be significant savings on time and effort as well as infrastructure cost. Your company can save a lot of money by engaging in procurement from Turkey. Turkey has a very well-developed infrastructure and fast transports. This will help the outside companies to get the products ready in a very short time and launch them in the market.

To enjoy more benefits, Turkey offers a large number of agencies which can be hired for customized services. These agents have a deep knowledge about conducting operations in the country and will be able to give you creative ideas. The upside to hiring these agents is that they are well aware of the economic and political scenario of Turkey. This would help in the long run if you are planning to have a great number of years of association with Turkey.

● Skilled Workforce -

Turkish workforce is highly skilled and is capable of bringing innovative ideas in the procurement operations. They are aware of the latest technological trends and know how to implement them in production techniques. They can provide high quality services and you can reap the benefits of cost advantage. Turkey is known to the entire world for its dedicated workforce. Their employees work for long durations without taking breaks.

The sourcing agencies in Turkey are highly professional. Even under the most adverse circumstances, they deliver their products by deadline. This has a huge benefit for the companies as they can have the products in the market on time. There is no lost opportunity cost due to delay. This is especially helpful when the consumer demand increases and companies need a lot of supply in a short time. Turkey suppliers adhere to their commitment always. If you outsource your organization's procurement to Turkey, you will get high quality products at minimum price.

● Competitive Edge -

Turkey has put a great deal of emphasis on optimizing costs of the company by employing long-term strategic capabilities. Turkey has become one of the most prominent procurement hubs recently because many companies across the world are looking to get their products from low cost countries without compromising on the product quality. Turkish agencies can help you with quality control, selection of the best suppliers and factories, timely delivery of products and customs clearance for flights. These service providers will ensure that you find trusted products and manufacturers for all your business needs.

However, there are currency risks associated with doing business in Turkey with the labour inflationary pressure. To avoid these risks and ensure that your business runs efficiently, the specialized procurement services are there to help. They can help to create sustainable value in the management of sourcing processes in the country.

A vertical supply chain, strong relationships and speed to the market makes Turkey a very desirable country for sourcing. Turkey procurement is beneficial because it provides a diverse range of good quality products at a cheaper rate. The country enforces strict controls to make sure that the product qualities are not being compromised. The corporate social responsibility of the country is highly impressive. The key to Turkey's success is its communication and speed.

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Turkey procurement is beneficial because it provides a diverse range of good quality products at a cheaper rate. The country enforces strict controls to make sure that the product qualities are not being compromised. The corporate social responsibility of the country is highly impressive. The key to Turkey's success is its communication and speed.

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Zara launches innovative Store Mode technology in UK | TheIndustry.fashion

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This article talks about Zaras new in store technology mode on their app. This is useful research because it allowed me to understand what direction Zara is going in in terms of technology and what I can do with the launch of my range to grow this

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Zara has launched its innovative Store Mode functionality across its ecommerce and in app, helping to connect its stores and digital platforms in the UK.

In September 2020, the fashion retailer launched Store Mode in several Spanish cities, aiming to make shopping easier, safer and more sustainable.

Earlier this year the technology was trialed in nine London locations, with the success allowing for it to be rolled out to all Zara stores in the UK.

Store Mode allows the customer to see the available inventory of items from the closest store, which could be available for collection within 30 minutes, reducing crowding in stores and unnecessary journeys.

When in-store, customers can use the app to locate products viewed online using wayfinding functionality, guiding them to its specific location. Once the item has been found, app users can reserve fitting rooms and fast track any fitting room lines with a QR code.

The app also produces a unique QR code at checkout, acting as a receipt and reducing the need for printing paper copies.

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Zara launches innovative Store Mode technology in UK - TheIndustry.fashion

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Zara has launched its innovative Store Mode functionality across its ecommerce and in app, helping to connect its stores and digital platforms in the UK.

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How can Zara maintain its leadership thanks to AI?

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This talks about how zara are successful and how they continue to be successful. I wanted to make sure in the range I was continuing to grow their success and not cause any downfalls for the brand so this article helped make sure the range covers all things Zara needs to maintain being a top competitor

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Created in 1975, the famous fast-fashion company has proven the reliability of its widely acclaimed business model, built on technology innovation and customer experience. Using little to no advertising, Zara acheived a $254 million second-quarter profit in 2020.

However, the brand has recently faced three main challenges: e-commerce, competition and sustainability.

To sustain its global expansion, the brand made a step toward digital expansion even before the pandemic hit, and it paid off. So far in 2020, Zara reports a 74% jump in online sales alone. Executive chairman of the brand Pablo Isla said the growth in online sales demonstrated the importance of the company's "integrated store and online" strategy, which was the "cornerstone" of the business. Despite this, sustainability concerns are rising among consumers as the eco-movement gains momentum, and Zara is known for its fast-fashion approach.

Thankfully, Zara can count on artificial intelligence to make a difference by better forecasting trends of best-selling products to boost its e-commerce sales.

Zara FW20 by Steven Meisel

A digital transition: Sign of the times

The Zara business model is a good example of the high stakes of a digital transformation for a brick-and mortar retailer. Pablo Isla has said that by 2020 all the Inditex brands will be online, and while physical stores still drew in profits this year, the pandemic made it apparent how vital online stores have become.

During the height of the pandemic this year, Zara was forced to close 1200 stores globally. But upon reopening, from May to July, the brand succeeded in reopening 98% of its stores. Amancio Ortega considers 2020's third quarter to be a "a progressive return to normality."

As for e-commerce, Zara saw a 74% jump in online sales this year, as they upped their digital communications and retrofitted their supply chains to accomodate shipments over in-store inventory. They even adapted their collections to fit "quarantine trends," including styles such as wide trousers, jumpers, and house slippers.

If not for Zara's digital reactivity, the brand would not have such a success online this year. This proves how vital digitalization and awareness of the times became throughout 2020.

Predicting the threat of the rise of ultra-fast fashion

Accounting for 14% of net sales, e-commerce remains a small portion of Zara's business. It pales in comparison to its online native competitors like Boohoo and Fashion Nova. These digital pureplay retailers deliver designs faster than Zara thanks to marketing tools. Moreover, because they exclusively launch celebrity-led collections, they master influence marketing better. Fashion Nova, for instance, has mastered influencer collaborations, with their May 2019 collection with Cardi B reportedly bringing in a whopping $1million just after launch. With these new entrants, time-to-market has shrunk while variety has ballooned.

Freed from physical store loans and benefiting from more efficient supply chains, new fast fashion competitors have large stock inventories and more agile capabilities.

With this in mind, Zara aims to get over a quarter of its sales through online channels by 2022. This follows the results of the 44% drop in their first-quarter sales, which were mitigated by online growth. .

The necessity to transform into a sustainable model fuelled by trend forecasting

Due to a disruptive time-to-market, quick response policy and just-in-time manufacturing, Zara applies a lot of pressure on its end-to-end supply chain. There is growing evidence that clients, concerned with sustainability issues, are beginning to wonder whether they should make fast-fashion purchases. To answer these concerns, Zara has developed its own sustainable line under the #joinlife label. Contrary to H&M's conscious collection, the initiative was discreetly implemented.

AI can improve customer-centric strategies to help boost e-commerce and be more sustainable

If Zara has succeeded in mastering its physical fast-fashion production chain, it is running late on digital. AI-powered trend forecasting is the way forward.

Zara has already multiplied technology-powered initiatives. In 2018, the fast fashion powerhouse teamed up with Jetlore, an AI-powered consumer behavior prediction platform, and Spanish big data company, El Arte de Medirn. Furthermore, it partnered with Intel and Fetch Robotics to measure clothing volume in boxes and improve stock inventory. Finally, to secure its product inventory and improve its traceability all along the supply chain, Zara implemented micro-chips from Tyco.

Since then, the brand continues to use these features in 2020. Earlier this year, they even added AI-powered robotics to automate order pick-up and reduce customer wait times.

Zara e-commerce site

Developing e-commerce to fight competition

In launching e-commerce platforms to boost its online sales it will take time for its visual merchandising teams to manage product features. Finding relevant mix and match styles to build silhouettes in line with real consumers habits can be really time-consuming.

Artificial intelligence can enable Zara to improve its trend radar to maintain a distance from its competitors and ultra-fast fashion's new entrants.

The cutting-edge technology can spot and predict the most popular product and brand associations, most attractive styles, colors and textures to provide guidance for online merchandising photoshoots and other lookbooks.

Most of all, through its analysis of 3 million images each day on social media, Heuritech offers a powerful market intelligence tool capable of identifying the best influencer styles and forecasting the latest upcoming trends.

From just-in-time production to forecasting demand and trends: how Zara can become more sustainable

The Zara case study shows the difficulty for a fashion retail leader in changing its image when faced with a rampant consumerism shift towards more sustainable brands.

The speedy logistics champion now wants to be seen as a "responsible fashion" player.

Artificial intelligence can help solve the "just-in-time" manufacturing loophole, by improving demand forecasting . The company focuses on responding to current fashion needs rather than forecasting fashion trends for a distant future: 85% of its production is done during the current season. By doing so, Zara can avoid overproduction, an issue its rival H&M also faces, and become more sustainable. Identifying client needs months in advance and suggesting specific product designs will enable the retailer to launch products that customers really want.

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How can Zara maintain its leadership thanks to AI?

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Created in 1975, the famous fast-fashion company has proven the reliability of its widely acclaimed business model, built on technology innovation and customer experience. Using little to no advertising, Zara acheived a $254 million second-quarter profit in 2020. However, the brand has recently faced three main challenges: e-commerce, competition and sustainability.

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Is Zara ethical and sustainable? - Wear Next

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This article debates about whether Zara is sustainable or ethical. It helped me understand more about what they are currently doing and this sustainable goals and what this range can do to help improve their sustainability and competitive advantage

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Zara may be one of the biggest retailers on the planet, but how sustainable is it and does it use ethical practises?
The fashion brand, which is owned by Inditex, has almost 3,000 stores in 96 countries, with new stock arriving every week to keep consumers coming back for more. Everyone from celebrities Alexa Chung and Rosie Huntington-Whitely counts themselves fans of the brand, so it's not surprising that Zara was valued at almost £14 billion in 2022.

Despite the retailer's profits suffering from the effects of the pandemic in 2020, it still appears to be reigning supreme when it comes to the high street. Here, we take a look at the brand's ethics, sustainability and position on animal welfare. Next, read more about the sustainability of brands Shein, Mango and H&M.
Wear next may earn commission if you click a link from one of our articles on to a retail website. Read more about how we choose our products.
Is Zara sustainable?

Zara hasn't posted a sustainability report since 2022, but the brand does have a sustainability manifesto on its website that highlights their goals and commitments as a brand under its Join Life initiative. The website states that Join Life 'represents a process of continuous improvement, always questioning what we (Zara) should do to move towards a more sustainable model.'

The brand also states that it works on different stages of their value chain with a 'holistic approach' whether its how they design their products, choose the materials or produce the garments, the logistics or the design and management of the warehouses and stores. They add that while they're not perfect, they're 'dedicated to continuous improvement.'

By 2023, Zara says it aimed to:

Use 100% cotton and more sustainable cellulosic fibres

Use 100% Redesigned packaging to facilitate its reuse and recycling

Eliminate 100% Of single-use plastics for customers

Collect and process 100% of waste from Zara's facilities for reuse or recycling

Zara has not yet confirmed whether these goals were met.

By 2030, Zara states it wants to reduce its emissions by 50%, use 100% raw textile materials with a lower environmental impact and to protect, restore or recover over 5million hectares of land. By 2040, they aim to have zero net emissions. You can read it in full here.

Zara launched its Pre-Owned service in 2022, which allows customers to get their old Zara items repaired either in-store or online, as well as buy and sell pre-owned Zara pieces. You can also donate your old clothes to Zara's clothing collection programme, and the garments will be donated to people at risk of exclusion, sold in second hand stores or recycled. Zara claim that proceeds are used to fund social projects.

However Zara operates with a business model not too dissimilar to fast-fashion brands such as Pretty Little Thing, Nasty Gal and Boohoo. The brand releases an incredible 24 trend-led collections every year, 500 designs a week and almost 20,000 per year, which in turn leads consumers to see their clothes as disposable and adds to even more waste from the garment industry that ends up in a landfill. However, it was reported that the brand had suffered a 44% slump in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Zara announced it was closing 1,200 of its stores around the world, thus reducing energy consumption - albeit out of necessity, not a choice.

Of course, Zara's fast fashion business model can never be environmentally friendly as manufacturing so many new garments create huge amounts of waste every year. This goes some way to explain why the average American is estimated to throw away 37kg of clothes each year, 85% of which will end up in landfill or be burned.

However, Inditex, the company that owns Zara, pledged to create all of its collections from 100% sustainable fabrics by 2025. They also claimed that 80% of the energy consumed in Zara's headquarters, factories and stores will be from renewable sources by the same year and its facilities will produce zero landfill waste.

Inditex, which also owns brands Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Bershka and Stradivarius, also started a repair and reuse program called Closing The Loop in 2016, which allows shoppers to drop off used garments in-store or through the post to be recycled, while their packaging is also recycled. Dow Jones named the fashion group as the most sustainable retailer from 2016 to 2018, and Zara also launched their Join Life range in 2016, which is made using recycled materials.

But despite the well-meaning steps, Zara has been criticised for failing to catch up with other brands. Their Join Life range accounts for such a small percentage of their collections that it fails to have much of an impact on the brand as a whole, and as such a large company, many feel there's no excuse.

Zara's transparency has also been called into question, as they fail to disclose the number of resources that go into production. The brand, along with over 100 others, has also been linked to Amazon Deforestation. According to Slow Factory, 'none of these brands are deliberately choosing deforestation leather' but they do continue to work with manufacturers that source their materials from opaque supply chains.

You can learn more about the fashion brands that have indirectly contributed to Amazon deforestation and what you can do about it here.

The brand's efforts to be transparent in its sustainability practices have also been questioned. A study of the top fast-fashion websites in the UK done last year reportedly revealed that 60% of environmental claims in these sites, including Zara's, could be considered 'misleading'.

Changing Markets Foundation said that many of these brands use the words 'sustainable', 'low-impact', 'eco', and 'recycled' but 59% of them do not live up to the Competition and Market Authority's (CMA) guidelines on avoiding greenwashing - the list was topped by H&M but also included Zara.

Is Zara ethical?

It's important to note the working conditions and wages of Zara's staff. Who can forget their unpaid factory workers from Turkey, who said they were left with 'no choice' but to sew hidden messages into clothing for customers to find? They were hired by manufacturer Bravo Tekstil, who produced clothes for Zara, before closing down in 2016.

Unfortunately the garment workers did not get paid for the three months up to the company's closure, until Inditex worked with a trade union and other retailers including Mango and Next to establish a 'hardship fund' to help the group of Turkish workers.

Since the bad publicity, Zara have started to improve the working conditions of their workers. They have a code of conduct that protects workers, and audits take place to ensure this is enforced. Zara also publish a list of suppliers, information of supplier audits and on gender equality, forced labour and freedom of association. However, Zara still fails to pay a living wage across its supply chain - despite such a huge profit margin.

They also fail to disclose evidence that their well-being programs are present at half of their factories, which suggests many workers are left unsupported.

In 2020, over 100 workers lost their jobs at the Huabo Times factory in Myanmar, which produces clothes for Zara, after forming a union. One worker claimed that they worked 10-hour days, six days a week and were regularly expected to work overtime to make enough money. Workers at the factory make around $3 per day, or £2.44. Meanwhile, the founder of Inditex, Don Amancio Ortega, is the sixth wealthiest person in the world, with a net worth of over £59 billion.
READ MORE: 6 of the Best Eco-Friendly Razors For Smooth Skin (Without Harming the Planet)
As for the COVID-19 pandemic, Zara discloses policies in place to protect workers and suppliers in its supply chain from the impacts of Covid-19. In August 2020, it was reported that Inditex had pledged to maintain workers' rights throughout their supply chains and the stability of payments to suppliers during the crisis.

The group had previously signed a joint agreement with global workers' union IndustriALL, and during the pandemic, they reiterated their commitment to ensuring health and safety standards were met, and bargaining rights and workers' rights to unionise were maintained throughout their supply chains.

Zara also committed to stable payment terms to allow suppliers to honour payments to their workers, ensuring they didn't lose wages during the pandemic like certain fast fashion retailers' employees did, such as those for Arcadia.

Zara Animal Welfare Policy

Zara uses wool, leather, down, and exotic animal hair, but their Animal Welfare Policy does ban fur, angora and animal testing in their clothing products.
Read their Animal Welfare Policy here.
Unfortunately Zara provide no evidence it traces any animal products to the first stage of production.

Is Zara the same as Shein?

Last year, people noticed that Shein has dozens of designs that can be considered as Zara dupes. But it's more than just design that people compare between the two fast fashion brands.

According to the sustainable fashion index, Good On You, Zara's green and sustainable efforts are not yet good enough. But compared to Shein, Zara has taken steps in creating good supply chain management through their Closing The Loop program.

Shein also received the lowest possible score Good On You has ever given a brand-avoid at all costs.

Like many high-street fashion brands, Zara are working towards becoming more sustainable and ethical - but there's still a long way to go.

Working at such a huge scale, it seems impossible for the much-loved brand to ever be truly environmentally-friendly, but they could run an ethical business by paying their staff fairly and treating them with respect.

Despite Zara perhaps being the most popular fast fashion chain in the world, it could also lose its gleam by not thinking sustainably.

Topshop, which was previously part of the Arcadia group and has since been taken over by ASOS, went into administration last year and many were quick to pull apart its lack of ethical and sustainable practises, high price point and failure to innovate for reasons why it went bust. Shoppers are now more savvy than ever before.

However Zara isn't the only fast fashion brand around. We've written a comprehensive list of high street brands which are fast fashion, and explained exactly what fast fashion means here.

Wear Next Opinion

Wear Next believes it's important to highlight the negative and unjust practises taking place in the fashion industry. We believe ethics and sustainability are an important talking point to bring about change and we encourage you to contact fashion brands to demand this.

However, we understand that sustainable fashion isn't accessible to everybody due to various factors, such as budget and the ability to find confidence-boosting clothes that fit. We will continue to offer you fashion inspiration and guidance to suit everybody and their budget, while also highlighting the unjust systems at play in the fashion industry.

We encourage our readers to shop mindfully and purposefully, ditching impulse purchases as a way to start shopping sustainably. If you want to learn more about fast fashion, we recommend books from this reading list.

Would you still shop at Zara? Let us know in the comments below.

Sustainable alternatives to Zara

In the past sustainable fashion was synonymous with bamboo, beige and basic garments, but recently slow fashion has started to change.
By Megan Crosby
There are plenty of exciting small fashion brands that don't compromise on style. If you like Zara, we recommend checking out these made-to-order fashion brands.

By Megan Crosby is a small fashion brand by - you guessed it - Megan Crosby.

She designs and hand makes a selection of colourful, playful and beautiful clothes.
With Love Evie
Shop her designs at bymegancrosby.com and don't forget to check out our interview with Megan.

With Love Evie might be a lesser-known sustainable label, but it's growing quickly.

Like Megan Crosby, Evie Ashwin designs and hand makes a selection of dresses, tops and trousers in her recognisable heart-printed ginghams and florals.
Molby The Label
Shop her designs at withloveevie.co.uk and don't forget to check out our interview with Evie.

Molby The Label boasts a whole host of celebrity fans, from Louise Thompson, to Holly Willoughby.

Her recognisable split-colour gingham Tilda dresses are instantly recognisable.
Omnes
Shop her designs at molbythelabel.com and don't forget to check out our interview with Karina here.

Omnes is a sustainable fashion label with flare, offering style-led sustainable pieces designed in London.

The brand works with a select few fabric producers, ensuring their products as sustainable as possible.

Shop at omnes.com

You can see more small businesses that hand make pieces to order here.

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Is Zara Ethical and Sustainable? - Wear Next.

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Is Inditex's most popular brand Zara really ethical and sustainable in 2024?

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This article talks about Zaras sustainability goals and where they are heading with sustainability so I wanted to make sure that their goals where in line with the sustainability of this range

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It is no secret that sustainability has become the number one priority for fashion companies. From Zara to Loewe to H&M, fashion brands are working to improve their environmental policy and their commitment to the planet.

Its unknown whether it is simply a marketing strategy or sincere commitment, but in reality, any action to realise a better world is welcome. In the case of Spanish fast fashion giant Zara, the company recently posted what could be considered a manifesto on its website, where it highlights its sustainable mission and some of the actions the brand will carry out.

Working towards sustainability

Under the slogan 'Working towards sustainability', Zara highlights in bold letters some of its most significant actions, such as politically fuelled programs, integrating social and environmental sustainability and the health and safety of its products. Garments labelled with 'Join Life' are produced using processes and raw materials that help reduce environmental impact. The company is now aiming that 50 percent of its products will meet the 'Join Life' standard by 2022.

Its boxes, bags, hangers and alarms are reused and recycled at the end of their useful life. Bags given to customers are already made from 100 percent recycled paper, and by 2023 they will eliminate all single-use plastics given to customers.

Currently, its shops have been renovated to prioritise efficient consumption of energy and water and zara.com's servers use renewable energy. The goal is that by 2022, 100 percent of the energy in its headquarters, logistics centres and own shops will come exclusively from renewable sources.

Well-informed garments

In addition, the garments in the 'Join Life' collection are accompanied by a tag, specifying the material used in its manufacturing, the care required to sustain the quality of the garment and its origin.

Image: Zara

Its use of European linen and recycled polyester and its manufacturing in Morocco and Tunisia already show Zara's progress in fulfilling its sustainable mission. With the addition of global company and consumer actions, an important commitment to eco or recycled fabrics and a more detailed information label, the company is well on its way to making significant steps to achieving its goals.

Image: Zara

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It is no secret that sustainability has become the number one priority for fashion companies. From Zara to Loewe to H&M, fashion brands are working to improve their environmental policy and their commitment to the planet. Its unknown whether it is simply a marketing strategy or sincere commitment, but in reality, any action to realise a better world is welcome.

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Hi, as part of my final project at college I am designing a gender neutral children’s collection. Please answer some questions on your thoughts of this.

Do you have children of your own?

How often would you shop for your child?

Do you think children’s wear should be gender neutral

What would you like to see in a gender less clothing range for Zara?

How much would you spend on children’s wear every month on average?

What material is best when it comes to children’s wear?

How would you like the range merchandised in store?

Mixed in with girls and boys

Would you be interested in buying gender neutral clothing for a child

Never submit passwords through Google Forms.

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Zara Marketing Mix (4Ps) Strategy | MBA Skool-Study.Learn.Share.

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This was extremely useful research because it helped me to understand more about Zara’ pricing, product, place and promotion and why Zara is so successful in a market that is so competitive

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Marketing Mix of Zara analyses the brand/company which covers 4Ps (Product, Price, Place, Promotion) and explains the Zara marketing strategy. The article elaborates the pricing, advertising & distribution strategies used by the company.

Let us start the Zara Marketing Mix:

Product:

Zara is one of the leading luxury fashion labels in the world. Zara's offer products for men, women and children. It offers jeans, trousers, tops, skirts, knitwear, T-shirts, shoes, bags and accessories. All these are the product strategy in the marketing mix of Zara. It is a one stop solution for everyone whether you want to buy formals or causals. One can choose from different styles Zara has to offer. It launches at least 10,000 new designs in a year. Zara products are a hit with the high end fashionistas as well as with the masses. The taste of the target market influences the availability of products line. Zara also teams up with local talent to provide best fashion trends.

Zara believes in sustainable development and is committed to reduce the production of waste. It recycles its hangers and security tags. Zara gives out their products in paper or biodegradable plastic bags. Zara uses ecological fabrics like organic cotton in the production of some of their items. These products have a unique and distinct label which can be identifies easily.
Image: Wikimedia

Price:

Zara's products are high on fashion and low on prices. Zara provides latest fashion at much lower prices in all its international stores as compared to other competing international brands. Zara follows low pricing strategy. It can afford to do that as it doesn't spend enormous amount of money on advertisements and raw material. It has an overall low cost structure compared to its competitors. Zara's prices are country specific. The tagging on their products are done locally in each respective market. Zara sets market-based pricing strategy which sets the target price consumer is willing to pay. The budget for production according to the target price. This in turn fixes the profit margin they earn on every item. This gives an insight on the marketing mix pricing strategy of Zara.

The brand uses various schemes as a way of sales promotion. Zara has low level of discounting around the year and discount sales of 50% or more twice in a year, for which the consumers eagerly wait.

Place:

Zara has enormous reach with stores in 88 countries, with over 6500 outlets. Zara also sells through its online store. All these cover the marketing mix place & distribution strategy of the brand. It is a vertically integrated company. Zara's supply chain is what provides them a competitive advantage. It uses its unique business model to bring new products and fashion to the market in shortest time possible. Store managers send orders to the headquarters twice a week based on the sales data of the store and the shoppers' preferences. The commercial team compiles the order then sends it to the manufacturing hub. The commercial team also coordinates with the in-house designers to find out new trends and develop new products. New products are produced in relatively small batches which helps them give exclusivity.

Most of the Zara stores are owned by the company and are not a franchise. This helps in keeping the shopping experience at Zara intact and constant be it London or Paris or New Delhi. The stores are located in posh locations and are spacious and modern in look with walled mirrors and excellent lightings. Their stores are designed by Zara's decoration team.

Promotion:

Zara barely spends any money on advertising. It is famous for being press shy. Even its owner never gives any press interviews. Unlike its competitors, Zara doesn't engage in any flashy campaigns. This is the reason why Zara's advertisements are not visible on television. Zara's unique selling proposition is its short processing time, a large variety of styles and affordable pricing. It relies on word of mouth promotion and social media rather than expensive marketing tools. Zara's social media reach is quite exceptional. It has 2.5 million followers on Facebook and 15 million followers on Instagram. It is interesting to note that Zara doesn't put its logo on their products.
About Zara:
Zara prefers spending their percentage of revenue in opening new stores. The brand spends money on expensive real estate for its stores and on its décor. Zara believes that its show windows are suffice for advertisements and they do not need anything else to sell their products. This concludes the marketing mix of Zara.

Zara is one of the leading fashion clothing and accessories brand. It was founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega and Rosalia Mera. Zara belongs to the Inditex group. It is known for its perfect combination of high end, chic clothing at affordable prices. It is this quality of the brand that makes it a go-to fashion brand for everyone. Its inaugural store was opened in a coastal town called A Coruna in Spain and slowly Zara expanded in other cities in Spain and then in Portugal. In 2010, Zara made an entry into the Indian market and opened its first store in Delhi. Today Zara is present in every corner of the globe. Zara is an eco-friendly company. It is one of the few brands known to produce 100% toxic free clothes. Zara is known for introducing latest fashion trends in the market. Zara gives fast response to customer's desires and changing preferences. It has introduced the concept of "fast fashion".

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Zara Marketing Mix (4Ps) Strategy | MBA Skool-Study.Learn.Share.

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Marketing Mix of Zara analyses the brand/company which covers 4Ps (Product, Price, Place, Promotion). Zara marketing mix explains the business & marketing strategies of the brand.

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For my primary research I sent out a questionnaire to friends and family asking about their thoughts on gender neutral children’s wear asking what they would wanna see from a gender neutral range, fabrics, colours etc. This data was extremely helpful when creating the range.

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Before completing the SWOT analysis for Zara I wanted to have a look at River Island, M&S and H&M  three of Zaras top competitor and what their Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats are to see how Zara can compete against them successfully with this range.

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Products & Services: Clothing | Accessories | Footwear | Cosmetics | Underwear | Sportswear | Home Textiles | Apparels | Underwear
Competitors: Macy's | Zara | UNIQLO | Gap | Boohoo | PVH | Abercrombie & Fitch | Arcadia | Fast Retailing

Fun Fact: While most retailers take up to six months to design, produce, and release new designer products, H&M only takes two weeks from design to release.

The Fashion retail business relies on effective selling strategies for higher merchandise turnover. H&M uses the fast fashion model that supplies designer tables with the latest fashion trends. This strategy allows for the fast delivery of merchandise from the designer table to the showroom floor.

Source: H&M Annual Report 2022

Since its founding, H&M has adopted a customer-centric approach to the running of the business. This has enabled the company to build a valuable brand. In 2022, it was ranked the 56th most valuable brand, with a brand value of $12.985 billion, compared to the #43 position in 2021, with a brand value of $14.1 billion.

In the digital age, companies that adopt and exploit the internet more effectively have a huge advantage. H&M has a strong online presence with a large audience across numerous platforms, which is funneled to drive sales via eCommerce

8. Community-Centered Approach:

Taking the interest of communities at heart is an effective way to build a sustainable business. H&M closed its stores in the US in support of protesters and is also focused on helping communities affected by the pandemic in Bangladesh.

9. H&M successfully Launches Digital Fashion Collection with Dress-X

The popular apparel company H&M successfully launched its virtual fashion catalog in January 2022. The company is making big waves in the virtual fashion sector and launched its new digital platform through a competition.

According to Maisie Williams (brand advocate), the company launched its digital clothing and accessories collection on its website. H&M customers will also have the opportunity to win newer clothing items and accessories from the virtual collection. H&M partnered with a known virtual clothing company, Dress-X.

The issue with H&M's fast fashion model is the reliance on fashion trends set by major designer brands. This is a major weakness since fashionistas are drawn to new and radical designs but not existing fashion trends.

4. H&M Experiences Sharp Decline in Sales in India

While still retaining its popularity and demand in India, Swedish fashion company H&M reported an 11% decrease in overall sales in 2021 throughout the country.

However, it is still expanding and offering products at attractive pricing. According to the company, the decline in sales was due to the uncertain economic landscape in India and being impacted by a slew of government regulations.

Retailers offering a wide variety of products are stable and earn more. H&M can improve its bottom line by diversifying offerings to include sports apparel.

4. Expand through Acquisition and Mergers:

To circumvent barriers to entry into some markets, companies exploit the benefits of mergers and acquisitions. H&M can expand into related markets like secondhand clothes through acquisition or merger with a player in the market.

5. H&M Introduces Brand New Spring Interior Décor Range

At the cusp of spring, H&M launched its new interior design collection for its Spring collection. The collection is affordably priced and contains a slew of different materials, colors, and styles.

H&M will also be launching its new kitchenware and kitchen products to help homeowners organize their pantries and cupboards - with products such as wooden boxes, bowl covers, storage compartments, bread bags, and much more.

Even though clothing is a necessity, trendy designer clothes, footwear, and underwear are luxuries. As Europe and other regions slide into recession, fashion retailers like H&M will experience a sharp decline in sales and profits or can even go under.

H&M faces stiff competition from new and old brands like Zara, Macy's, Gap, Boohoo, and so on. Competitors seek to increase market share and reduce demand for H&M's products.

7. H&M Sales Advisor Shares Unsettling Photos of Lice and Insects

H&M worker Netroya B recently uploaded some gruesome photos of creepy crawlies in the fashion retailer's New York outlet. She claims that the store isn't doing anything about the issue and is allowing oblivious customers to make bug-riddled purchases. Netroya uploaded three photos of the bug-infested clothing items, and her Tweet has gained more than 3,000 likes.

References & more information

Ting, D. (2019, March 18). How Marriott Plans to Supercharge Growth Starting With 1,700 New Hotels in 3 Years. Skift.

Touryalai, H. (2019, May 15). World's Largest Hotels 2019: Marriott Leads Again, Hyatt & Accor Rise. Forbes

Fortune 500 (2020). Marriott International. Fortune

Schaal, D. (2019, July 29). Marriott's Alibaba Joint Venture in China Is Part of Its Direct-Booking Strategy. Skift.

Marriott Inc. (2019, December 09). Marriott International Completes Acquisition of Elegant Hotels Group. PR News.

Tenny, L. (2019, February 13). Marriott Launches Bonvoy Loyalty Program With Experiential Perks. Meetings Today

Rai, S. (2018, March 4). Marriott employee 'fired' for Twitter error speaks out. Hotelier Middle East

Forbes Ranking (2020). Company: Marriott International. Forbes

Gressin, S. (2018, December 4). The Marriott data breach. Consumer Information

King, R. (2019, May 30). Hoteliers, Take Note: Millennials Own Your Future. Hospitality Net

Wootson, C. R. (2017, September 12). Why a Marriott ship was forced to leave stranded tourists behind. Washington Post

B. Alliance. (2019, May 29). Marriott International fined $600,000 for blocking guests' Wi-Fi. Wireless Broadband Alliance

Wayne, M. (2018, March 3). Marriott Employee Roy Jones Hit 'Like.' Then China Got Mad. The Wall Street Journal

Reitknecht, R. (2019, April 23). The Power of Millennials in Hospitality for Delivering Game. Hospitality Net

Press Release. (2020, March 6). Luxury Hotel Market Trends 2019, Demand, Opportunities, and Forecast to 2025. Market Watch

Merlino, D. (2019, March 27). Why hoteliers should jump on the personalization bandwagon. Phocus Wire.

Glusac, L. (2019, April 29). A Marriott Division goes Head-to-Head with Airbnb. The New York Times

Garber, J. (2020, May 11). Marriott profit plunges 92% as coronavirus zaps travel. FOX Business

Mariano, K. (2018, May 30). The two biggest battles in hospitality: How will Marriott compete? Travel Media

Stankiewicz, K. (2020, March 24). Marriott CEO: Coronavirus outbreak worse for business than the 9/11 and 2008 financial crises combined. CNBC

Grant, K. (2018, March 8). How Could a Trade War Impact Marriott's Bottom Line? The Street

VOA News. (2020, February 27). The US Warns of Possible Terrorist Attack in Nairobi. VOA News.

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Business Strategy Hub brings you the brief SWOT analysis of H&M. Read here about the business strategy frameworks, business models and more.

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Before completing the SWOT analysis for Zara I wanted to have a look at River Island, M&S and H&M  three of Zaras top competitor and what their Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats are to see how Zara can compete against them successfully with this range.

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River Island - SWOT Analysis H&M New Look Strengths Visual Merchandising - Creative, eye-catching window displays that stand out from competitiors and surrounding retailers. - Strong brand identity that connects stores and customers with their online presence by the use of

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SWOT Analysis of Marks and Spencer (M&S) | Marketing Tutor

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Before completing the SWOT analysis for Zara I wanted to have a look at River Island, M&S and H&M  three of Zaras top competitor and what their Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats are to see how Zara can compete against them successfully with this range.

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Marks & Spencer is a British multinational retail business company. Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer laid the foundation of the company in 1884. Since then M&S brand has launched approximately more than 1463 location points across the world. The headquarters of the company is located in London.

Some of the main products of Marks and Spencer are home products, food and edible items, and clothing. The company sells products under its own brand name. M&S is a listed company under the London Stock Exchange. Here is the Pestle Analysis of Marks and Spencer.

The company is employing approximately 80000 people in 2020. However, in August 2020, the company announced that it would cut down 7000 jobs due to the covid-19 pandemic. The annual revenue of the company in 2020 was 10181.9 million pounds. Out of which the net income of the company was 27.4 million pounds.

Today, we'll discuss the swot analysis of Marks and Spencer to understand its various internal and external factors in detail.

Strengths of Marks and Spencer (M&S)

Some of the prominent strengths of the Marks & Spencer are as follows;

Marks & Spencer has been in the market for the past 136 years. It's one of the leading retail businesses in the UK. The company began its retail journey with Penny Bazaar at Kirkgate Market. The brand has made many big partnerships over the years across the world. A plethora of experience is a huge plus point for the company.

Marks and Spencer has the reputation of providing quality products to its customers in the market. That's why when people go out shopping in the streets of the UK; they prefer to go to Marks & Spencer. According to Statista, it said that Marks and Spencer are the second-most popular supermarket in the UK.

M&S doesn't only have an online store, but it also got an offline physical store in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. According to an estimate, the company has 1463 outlets across the world and out of which 1035 there in the UK. Online stores and offline physical outlets have helped the company to expand its business worldwide.

Marks and Spencer offer a variety of products to its customers. For instance, the company has been offering a variety and vegetables for the past more than 40 years out of 136 years. The brand has made very good relationships with local farmers to bring fresh products and serve them to the customers.

The company "suppliers management section" shows that it has approximately over 400 suppliers with 800 sites located in 44 countries worldwide. The brand offers 500 different types of prepared vegetables, salads, and fruits to its customers. There's no other supermarket to offer such a variety of products to the customers like M & S.

Marks & Spencer has given a place to a large number of famous designers of different brands at its stores. Some of those are North Coast, Autograph, Collezione, Big & Tall, Blue Harbour, Indigo collection, Portfolio, Classic, Per Una, Limited Collection, and many more. When the company has brought many brands under one roof, it has made M & S stronger than ever.

Weaknesses of Marks and Spencer (M&S)

Some of the main weaknesses of the Marks & Spencer are as follows;

According to a report by Wood 2019, the sale in some of the stores of M&S was declining by the end of 2019. It was because of the poor supply chain system and the non-availability of products. The same thing happened during the Christmas season of 2017, the company couldn't meet the required demand for food and clothing items. It made a very bad impact on the image of the company.

There's a perception among the general public that M&S don't offer clothes to the young and teenagers. Many perceive that the company serves only older people. Although this perception is wrong; but it has cost the company a lot. If the majority of customers are elderly, it doesn't mean that it only serves older people.

One of the major drawbacks of Marks & Spencer is that the company heavily relies on manual operations. It is costly and consumes a lot of time. Many old companies and organizations have already adopted the latest technology to mechanize various processes. If the company adopts the latest tech, then it would the brand to save time, cost and become efficient.

Opportunities for Marks and Spencer (M&S)

Some of the main opportunities available to the Mark & Spencer are as follows;

As we know that Marks & Spencer is a multinational brand and the company has opened up stores in countries like India, Russia, Brazil, Poland, and Indonesia. Now the company needs to expand in those countries. It means that the brand has to play an active role by increasing more and more branches in those countries.

Marks & Spencer also has an online store. But when we compare the company's position with other world's leading online retail e-commerce stores like Amazon or eBay. Then M&S is far behind in the competition. Even though the company is old, well experienced, and has a strong brand name.

Ecommerce retail is the future of shopping because people are getting busy and they avoid public and crowded places. Therefore, the company should focus on the growth of the online store. As a matter of fact, M & S has recently announced that the brand is planning to bring its clothing and home product items online.

Market segmentationis the process of dividing the customer market into different groups based on similar groups. If we look at the policy of M & S, then it follows the same principle of opening up mega stores everywhere. If the company follows the customer segmentation policy of offering the products based on the needs of customers.

Customer segmentation policy would serve the company in many ways. Like the management and maintenance cost would be lower, small stores mean that low rental cost, and an increase in profit consequently.

Threats to Marks and Spencer (M&S)

The retail market in the UK and across the world is getting very competitive. Some of the main competitors of Marks & Spencer are Amazon, Tesco, John Lewis, ASDA, Debenhams, Sainsbury, Sports Direct, Morrisons, Gap, and Next.

If the company doesn't change its strategy, then it would fade away from the market gradually because the competitors are very strong. If the scale company's position in the global, brand's graph is moving downward. For instance, M&S has been shutting its stores in the UK, France, and China.

Conclusion

After a careful study of the swot analysis of Marks and Spencer, it comes to our attention that the company is very strong and has a good reputation for providing quality products. But the threat of competitors is also real. Therefore, shutting down stores is not the solution. The management should segment the customers, and keep opening the stores targeting the needs of stores. This is the only way to move forward.

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SWOT Analysis of Marks and Spencer (M&S) | Marketing Tutor

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M&S is a British multinational retailer that deals in clothes, furniture, food, flowers & gifts. Here is the SWOT Analysis of Marks & Spencer

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For my initial research I went onto Business Of Fashion and looked at their section on Zara that includes lots of information and Zara including the history of Zara which was helpful when writing my introduction.

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One of Zaras USP is their section on their mobile app where you can shop in store via the app when in store combining both the online and in store retail experiences. This article talks more in detail about how this is growing and how this is working for consumers. This was helpful to learn more about why it’s successful but also it helped me discover how I can use the growth in technology in my ranges

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Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

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Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

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Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

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Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

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Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

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Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

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Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

# data[].attributes.body
Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

# data[].attributes.body
Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

# data[].attributes.body
Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

# data[].attributes.body
Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

# data[].attributes.body
Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

# data[].attributes.body
Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

# data[].attributes.body
Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.

# data[].attributes.body
Online research looking at Zara competitors websites to compare four products : joggers, t-shirts, sweatshirt and jeans which will all be included in the range.