From the first peseta to the 37th billion euro
EL PAÍS
The robe workshop (1963). Born in 1936 in Busdongo de Arbás, León, Amancio Ortega sets up his first workshop making dressing gowns, along with his first wife, Rosalía Mera.
From retail to wholesale (1972). Confessiones Goa begins producing on a large scale. Ortega and his wife distribute their textile goods in Spain and abroad, with dressing gowns still the stock-in trade.
The first shop (1975). Ortega opens his first shop in A Coruña. He decides on the name Zara after learning that Zorba is already registered.
Regional expansion (1975-1980). Over the next five years, Ortega continues to open new shops in Galicia.
National growth (1983-1986). Zara begans to establish a nationwide presence, opening stores in provincial capitals such as Valladolid, Barcelona, Seville and Madrid.
Inditex is born (1985). Inditex is set up as the holding company for a group of shops and factories run by Ortega.
Internationalization (1988). With more than 60 shops throughout Spain, Ortega expands internationally. He opens the first shop outside Spain in Oporto. By 1989, there are stores in New York, and a year later, in Paris.
Rapid growth (1991) and new brands. Inditex buys 65 percent of men's fashion retailer Massimo Dutti, and creates Pull & Bear, aimed at a youth market. In 1998, Ortega sets up Bershka, aimed at young women. A year later he buys Stradivarius, and in 2000 launches lingerie chain Oysho. In 2003 he sets up Zara Home and in 2008 starts accessories store Uterqüe.
New headquarters (2000). Inditex moves from A Coruña to nearby Arteixo, where Ortega builds a vast plant of 16 textile factories.
Stock market entry (2001). With 997 shops in 30 countries around the world, Inditex enters the stock market with capital of 92 million. Shares go on sale at 14.70 euros. A few days after launch, shares have risen to 18 euros. They have continued to rise since. On August 7 of this year, they reached 90 euros.
The Forbes moment (2001). Ortega enters the Forbes magazine ranking of the world's richest men at 43rd. By the following year, he has risen to 25th place, and in 2003 reaches the top 20 with an estimated net worth of 8.3 billion.
Store number 2,000 (2004). Twenty years after the opening of the first shop in A Coruña, Hong Kong has the honor of hosting the company's 2,000th store. Inditex now has a presence in 56 countries.
Store number 4,000 (2008). In four years, Inditex doubles the size of its empire, opening its 4,000th shop, in Tokyo, and extending its presence to 73 countries. Ortega is now the world's tenth-richest man, worth 18.3 billion euros.
Store number 5,000 (2010). In search of better locations, Inditex opens a store in Rome's upmarket shopping district. At the same time, it develops an internet strategy. Ortega is now the world's eighth-richest man with 25 billion euros.
Ortega steps down as chairman (2011). After 27 years at the helm, Inditex's founder and main shareholder hands over to his deputy Pablo Isla.
Inditex holds its own (2012). Despite the crisis, the group continues to grow, opening new stores that should take it to 6,000 in 85 nations, and turning over 3 billion in the first quarter. Ortega is now the third-wealthiest man on the planet, worth 37.5 billion euros.
