Amancio Ortega

Ortega's manufacturing roots lie in a small clothing workshop begun in 1963, before the first Zara shop opened in 1975. Rosalia Mera and other family members contributed to the early enterprise. Making garments before becoming a large retailer gave the business practical knowledge of production and customer demand. The link between workshop and shop provides a clear starting point for understanding the later group's closely connected design, manufacturing and retail operations.