Zara controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2024
US overtime-pay settlement
Zara agreed to a $1.25 million settlement concerning allegations that commissions were omitted from overtime-pay calculations for approximately 500 employees.
2023
Finnish workload investigation
Finnish occupational authorities investigated several Zara stores over suspected illegal labor practices and found excessive workloads, including one store where most surveyed workers described the workload as unbearable.
2021
Zara condemns designer's comments and says they do not reflect company values
Company response
In June 2021, Zara issued a statement after a top designer at the company sent messages that drew criticism. A Zara spokesperson said the company condemned the designer's comments, stating that they did not reflect its values, and regretted the offence caused. The statement also said that Zara would not tolerate discrimination. The company's response addressed the designer's remarks and reiterated its stated position against discrimination, while the statement did not provide further details beyond the condemnation and regret expressed.
Company response
Clarification — Zara
“We condemn these comments that do not reflect our core values of respect for one another, and we regret the offence that they have caused.
Source excerpt
“We condemn these comments that do not reflect our core values of respect for one another, and we regret the offence that they have caused.
“Zara does not accept any lack of respect to any culture, religion, country, race or belief. Zara is a diverse company and we shall never tolerate discrimination of any kind,” reads a statement from a company spokesperson sent to CNN on Wednesday.
The posts sparked online calls for disciplinary action against Perilman and a boycott of Zara.
2021
Zara faces backlash over designer's remarks and company response
Public backlash
Zara faced online condemnation and boycott calls after its women's department head designer sent inflammatory messages to a Palestinian model. According to the report, Zara had not issued a formal statement but replied to individual complaints, saying it had opened an internal investigation and that the designer's apology had been accepted and the misunderstanding clarified and closed.
Company response
Investigation — Zara
“As soon as this situation was brought to our attention, we opened an internal investigation to address it properly.
Clarification — Zara
From what we know through our research, her immediate and spontaneous apology was accepted and so the misunderstanding was clarified and closed on Wednesday,'' one email read.
Source excerpt
Perilman has since deleted her Instagram account amid the backlash and widespread calls for a formal apology from herself and the company, which has also been condemned for not explicitly condemning her remarks.
Some of Perilman's messages to Harshash have been decried online as Islamophobic.
“As soon as this situation was brought to our attention, we opened an internal investigation to address it properly. From what we know through our research, her immediate and spontaneous apology was accepted and so the misunderstanding was clarified and closed on Wednesday,'' one email read.
2021
Oxfam names fashion brands in its 2021 Naughty or Nice list
Issue disclosure
In its 2021 Naughty or Nice list, Oxfam named Zara, Jay Jays, Just Jeans, Lorna Jane, Myer and Peter Alexander as failing to be transparent about whether garment workers are paid a living wage. Oxfam also identified brands it said had made commitments or positive steps toward living wages and transparency. The list was published as part of Oxfam's assessment of fashion brands on these issues.
Oxfam’s 2021 Naughty or Nice list named Zara, Jay Jays, Just Jeans, Lorna Jane, Myer and Peter Alexander as failing to be transparent about whether garment workers are paid a living wage. Oxfam also identified brands it said had made commitments or positive steps toward living wages and transparency.
Source excerpt
This year’s “naughty” brands are Zara, Jay Jays, Just Jeans, Lorna Jane, Myer and Peter Alexander, which Oxfam says are failing to be transparent about whether or not their garment workers are paid a living wage.
2020
Zara reaches settlement over alleged discrimination
Settlement
Zara reached a $30,000 settlement with a nonbinary transgender customer who reported experiencing discrimination in Zara stores. The settlement included emotional-distress damages and measures intended to help prevent future discrimination in its stores.
Company response
Refund or compensation — Zara
Zara agreed to pay Medina $30,000 in emotional distress damages
Remediation — Zara
and to institute restorative justice measures to help prevent future discrimination in its stores.
Source excerpt
The international clothing retailer Zara has reached a settlement with a non-binary transgender shopper who allegedly experienced multiple examples of discrimination in their New York city stores.
Zara agreed to pay Medina $30,000 in emotional distress damages and to institute restorative justice measures to help prevent future discrimination in its stores.
The international clothing retailer Zara reached a $30,000 settlement with a nonbinary transgender customer who reported experiencing discrimination in its New York City stores on multiple occasions.
2019
Spanish discrimination and reassignment case
A Spanish labor case found that Zara violated the fundamental rights of two sales assistants after store closures and proposed changes to working conditions. The company was ordered to restore equivalent conditions and pay compensation.
2017
Unpaid wages linked to failed Turkish supplier
Customers found notes in Zara garments from workers seeking unpaid wages after supplier Bravo Tekstil failed. Inditex said it would help compensate affected workers, although the reported agreement did not cover all categories of employees.
2016
Child-labor and exploitation allegations in Turkey
BBC reporting identified alleged child labor and exploitation issues at Turkish factories connected to Zara’s supply chain. Zara said the issues involved one factory and acknowledged that remediation had been given a period rather than being completed immediately.
2016
Allegations of copying independent designers
Independent designers, including Tuesday Bassen, accused Zara of reproducing their designs. Inditex suspended disputed products and said it was engaging with legal representatives. Another designer, MaXhosa by Laduma, later pursued legal action over alleged copying.
2014
Children’s shirt criticized for Holocaust associations
Zara withdrew a striped children’s shirt bearing a yellow star after criticism that it resembled clothing associated with Jewish concentration-camp prisoners. The company said the design drew on sheriff imagery and apologized for the offense caused.
2011
Brazilian supplier labor allegations
A Brazilian television investigation alleged poor working conditions and forced-labor-like practices at an outsourced facility producing Zara garments. Labor authorities closed a facility, while Zara said unauthorized outsourcing breached Inditex standards and required remediation.
2007
Handbag withdrawn over swastika symbol
Zara removed a handbag after a customer identified a swastika in its design. The company attributed the item to an external supplier and said it would not have sourced the product had the symbol been apparent.