She began working as a regular employee at Zara, doing stock inventories and minding the fitting rooms for 15 years. This humble equestrienne will be taking over her family’s empire. Meet Marta Ortega Pérez, daughter of a Spanish tycoon who founded Inditex and the most powerful woman in fashion, as of late. Inditex is the parent company of 8 major fashion brands, namely: Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home, and Uterqüe.
Marta Ortega will be taking over the family business in April this year, which is worth over the US $15,780,000,000.00 (about 100 billion yuan), with 6,654 stores and 162,450 employees around the world, and still growing. Spanish businessman and state lawyer, Pablo Isla, is the current chairman and CEO of Inditex when Spain’s richest tycoon, Amancio Ortega, stepped down from his position as Chairman in 2011. Ortega co-founded Inditex in 1963!
Now, his 38-year-old daughter Marta Ortega-Pérez is finally stepping out of his shadow and taking over his legacy. She is humble and keeps a low profile, and worked at Zara at King’s Road for 15 years after graduating from a university, folding shirts, minding the fitting rooms, and being in charge of the inventories. Her father planned to make her take over the business since she was 14.
“I dedicate my life to building upon my parents’ legacy, looking to the future but learning from the past,” Marta exclaimed when she has appointed to the topmost position of being the CEO. Her father, Amancio, has trained his youngest daughter to be successful since she was a child. When she grew up, she finished a Business Management course at a European Business School. There, she became proficient in 4 languages, namely, English, French, Spanish and Italian.
Amancio adds that Marta has been business savvy since she was a toddler, which is why he chose her over his other children. Amancio recalls Marta making clothes design proposals to Zara when she was 14 years old. She stated that the majority of the designs were appropriate for mature individuals. When he realized this, he launched a new clothing line aimed at the younger age. Bershka opened two years later.
She began working as a Sales Assistant at Zara’s King’s Road shop in London after graduating from university with a Business Economics major. She was pretty nervous at first, despite her age of 22. “I believed I was going to die the first week,” she told the Wall Street Journal in a rare interview earlier this year. “But then you become addicted to the store.”
Some folks are unwilling to leave. It is the company’s beating heart.” During her 15 years with Zara, she has been promoted to several roles inside the firm. She advanced through the ranks by folding garments, working in the accounting and finance departments, becoming a manager, and eventually becoming a brand design supervisor.
“I have lived and breathed this firm since I was a youngster,” she said in a statement. “Every breath I take is tied to the Inditex Group.” I’ve learned a lot from all of the wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the previous 15 years.” According to most foreign media, she is quite reasonable and pleasant. Every Zara item she wore sold out within hours of its release.
In 2017, during a Madrid Fashion Week event, Marta wore a ZARA blazer that fashionistas found elegant and was sold out in all sizes hours within the day it was released. She was the epitome of elegance and comfort while wearing her family’s fashion line. In an event held in an equestrian stadium, she and her husband, Carlos, wore army green couple outfits with python print suits, and since then, these became hot-selling items in all Zara branches.3 years ago, the wedding of the century was held for these 2 humble and loving people.
Marta fell in love with Inditex employee, Carlos Torretta, who originally worked in New York. He is the son of fashion designer Roberto Torretta, and he moved to Spain to be with the love of his life, Marta. A high-profile wedding was celebrated in 2018, which cost more than US $22,735,000.00 (about 20 million euros). Logistics included transferring 400 guests by private jet, and transporting 300 trees from Belgium to the wedding, creating a floral forest touch to the venue.
The bride wore a Valentino gown since Marta is a “fangirl” of the brand and has attended various fashion shows featuring her favorite. According to some friends of the couple, the celebration was attended by celebrities like Bruce Springsteen’s daughter, Jessica, and the wedding reception has been graced by performances from Norah Jones, Jamie Cullum, and Coldplay’s Chris Martin.