Inditex non-executive chairwoman Marta Ortega has reflected on her four years leading the Spanish fashion giant in an interview with Vogue magazine, stating she does not intend to copy her father and company founder Amancio Ortega.
Having been linked to Inditex for nearly two decades, Marta Ortega took over as chair of the board of directors four years ago. She said following in the footsteps of her father, who launched Zara in 1975 and built it into a global fashion powerhouse, is a source of pride rather than a burden.
The 42-year-old executive said she feels she is in a great stage of her life and enjoys her daily work with Inditex staff. She added that being able to build her career in A Coruña, close to her children and family, is a privilege she values deeply.
Inditex, officially known as Industria de Diseño Textil, S.A., is one of the world's largest fashion retailers. The corporate group encompasses major high-street brands including Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius and Oysho, operating thousands of stores worldwide from its administrative headquarters in Galicia, Spain.
From London shop assistant to company chairwoman
Before taking charge of the board, Marta Ortega spent years gaining experience across different areas of the business. Her corporate career started far from the executive suites, following her business administration studies in London.
Her initial role within the company was as a sales assistant at the Zara store on King's Road in London. She worked on the shop floor as a first step before taking on broader responsibilities within the group.
Father and daughter still work closely together in the daily operation of the business. Amancio Ortega, who recently turned 90, maintains an active presence at the company's offices in Arteixo, near A Coruña, where his desk is situated close to hers.
Marta Ortega described Inditex as having a remarkably flat corporate structure with few management tiers despite its massive global scale. She noted that from the inside, the company does not feel like a giant multinational, describing it instead as one big family.
Preserving Zara's core identity and local roots
Under her leadership, Zara has expanded its cultural reach by launching creative partnerships with prominent figures in fashion, art and entertainment. Recent high-profile collaborations include projects with fashion photographer Steven Meisel, film director Luca Guadagnino, designer John Galliano and musician Bad Bunny.
Despite these artistic partnerships, Marta Ortega emphasized that growing and evolving will not alter the brand's core mission. She stated that Inditex is very far from wanting to turn Zara into a luxury label, noting that the goal remains producing well-made clothing accessible to as many people as possible.
That commitment to core values is also tied to A Coruña, the coastal city where Zara was established and where Marta Ortega continues to reside with her family. She remarked that the city forms an essential part of the company's identity, adding that she does not believe Inditex would be the same company today had it moved away from A Coruña.
As she continues to shape her own leadership role within the business empire her father created, Marta Ortega said she remains conscious of the weight of the Ortega name while focusing on building her own legacy rather than attempting to replicate her father's past.
