Ready or not, Iran and Iraq are getting a taste of hip western fashion as Spanish clothing retailer Mango is set to open stores in the cities of Tehran and Erbil by the end of 2008.
Mango, which has more than 1,100 shops in 90 countries, is serious about its Iran invasion. Another two stores, one in Kish Island and another in Tehran as well, will soon follow. Over the next 5 years, Mango plans to open 10 more stores in the cities of Isfahan, Mashhad and Shiraz.
As for Iraq, Mango will open a store in the northern city of Erbil in December. The choice of the Kurdish city in the north can be attributed to the relative peace and safety in that area, away from the usual violence in the capital Baghdad.
Mango opened its first store in the Middle East back in 1997 in Kuwait.
Movie star Penelope Cruz and her sister have designed collections for Mango in the past couple of seasons, check out the gallery for some of their ads.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Western Fashion Invasion
- Opportunities for western fashion brands to expand into culturally rich markets such as Iran and Iraq.
- International Expansion
- The move by Mango signals a trend among retailers to expand operations into new untapped markets in developing countries.
- Kurdish Fashion Market
- Expanding into the Kurdish city of Erbil presents opportunities for fashion retailers to serve the Kurdish fashion market.
Sectors Adopting This
- Fashion and Apparel Retail
- Retailers can tap into new markets such as Iran and Iraq to expand their brand and increase sales.
- International Trade and Commerce
- Increased international trade and commerce are opening up new opportunities for businesses to enter untapped markets.
- Creative Design and Advertising
- Collaborations in creative design and advertising with celebrities like Penelope Cruz can help brands to build a broader customer base and stay ahead of the competition.
