Isak Andic, the non-executive chairman and founder of Mango, passed away on Saturday. Toni Ruiz, the chief executive officer of the Spanish retailer, confirmed that the cause of death was an accident. Andic was 71 years old. Media reports indicate that Andic tragically fell nearly 500 feet in a cave in the Montserrat mountain range near Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain, during an excursion with his family.
FILE – Isak Andic, the founder of Spanish fashion brand Mango, arrives at the Fall-Winter 2011 Mango’s fashion show in Paris Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Andic died after falling while on a hike near Barcelona, the company said on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. He was 71. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)
Ruiz expressed his deep sorrow in a letter, stating, “Isak has been an example to all of us. He dedicated his life to the Mango project, leaving an indelible mark through his strategic vision, inspiring leadership, and unwavering commitment to values that he himself instilled in our company. His legacy reflects the achievements of a business venture marked by success, as well as his humanity, approachability, and the care and affection he always showed to the entire organisation.”
Andic founded Mango in 1984, a company offering menswear, womenswear, childrenswear, and a home collection. The first store was located on Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona, Mango’s hometown. In 1992, the brand began expanding internationally with the opening of two stores in Portugal.
“His passing leaves a huge void, but we all, in some way, are his legacy and the testimony of his accomplishments. It is our responsibility, and the best tribute we can pay to Isak, to ensure that Mango remains the project Isak envisioned and one he would be proud of. In these extremely difficult times, we share the family’s grief as our own,” concluded Ruiz.
Marta Ortega Perez, chair of Zara’s parent company Inditex, expressed her condolences, saying, “This is such tragic news for all those who were lucky enough to know Isak Andic. It is also a huge loss for the Spanish business world and the global fashion sector – in both worlds his contribution has defined an era. Sending my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and everyone who is part of the great company he created and which we at Inditex admire so much.”
Madrid, Dec 15 (IANS) Isak Andic, the founder of the global fashion chain Mango, passed away after falling off a cliff in Spain, the company announced.
On X, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez praised Andic’s “great work and business vision, which transformed his Spanish brand into a global point of reference in fashion.”
Born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1953, Andic’s family emigrated to Barcelona in 1969. Andic’s success in building an international giant is evident, with Mango reporting a turnover of more than 3.1 billion euros in 2023, a 15 percent increase from 2022. Net profit more than doubled to 172 million euros. Earlier this year, Mango unveiled a new, two-year strategic plan called 4E.
The goal is to achieve sales exceeding 4 billion euros by 2026. The company plans to reach this target by opening more than 500 new stores and elevating the brand’s value.
Mango currently employs over 15,500 people and operates around 2,800 stores in more than 120 markets worldwide. The brand’s online activity is significant, and international business accounts for nearly 80 percent of its turnover.
In April, Mango launched a high-profile collaboration with Victoria Beckham, which featured a collection of tailoring, slip dresses, knitwear, and accessories designed in a muted palette of summery “island” colours.
