In a country recently emerged from a recession that destroyed businesses and jobs, Amancio Ortega is a rare self-made mogul. The son of a railway worker started his professional life at 14 as a delivery boy with a shirtmaker in the wind-swept northern city of A Coruña. Within a few years he had set up a workshop making nightgowns, lingerie and baby wear, and the first Zara opened in Spain in 1975.

In person, Ortega is a persuasive and enthusiastic businessman, who despite progressively handing over the day-to-day management of the company over the last decade continues as an active part of it, people familiar with Inditex say. He is known for selecting designs based on feedback from shop assistants who zero in on shoppers’ reactions.

Well Inditex (ZARA) is probably the business that has generated the most jobs in A Coruña. Ever since he opened the first ZARA store in downtown A Coruña, that’s pretty much what coruñeses and most galicians have been wearing.

Over the years he has been critiziced of being a capitalist and big store monopoly that destroyed many small businesses. He is also being accused of profiting from underpaying workers in third world countries.  Others admire him because of his humble beginnings and him being a very discreet person who eats every day at the same cafeteria with workers of  the office in Arteixo, Galicia.  His very generous donations to charities, most recently donated 16 million Euros to the health care in Galicia. More importantly his ZARA provided many galicians with jobs at these very challenging times for Spain.

THE BEAUTIFUL COASTAL CITY OF A CORUNA IS LOCATED ONLY 76 KM FROM SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELLA.

IT IS WHERE THE HISTORICAL TOWER OF HERCULES IS LOCATED AND THE PROUD HOME OF ZARA.

Keep read about A Coruña…