Uterque makes debut in Spain

Inditex, the Spanish fashion conglomerate behind Zara and Massimo Dutti, opened its first accessories concept stores in Spain last week.

The chain is called Üterque, which is Latin for 'both' or 'one and the other'. Inditex opened five stores under the concept last week, with two in Madrid, two in Barcelona and one in A Coruña, close to its head office.

Üterque offers fashion-led accessories for men and women including handbags, footwear, belts, sunglasses and jewellery. Retail prices for handbags range from €20 (£15) to €200 (£159).

The collection is designed at Inditex's head office and follows the same vertical fast-fashion business model as Zara.
The store design is inspired by old English libraries, featuring wooden furniture, black flooring and fixtures, full-length mirrors, wooden pan-elling and environmentally friendly materials.

The store openings are part of a wider push into the accessories market by Inditex, which will see it open up to 30 Üterque stores in Spain, Portugal and Greece by the end of the year. It is unclear whether Inditex plans to bring the concept to the UK.
The Spanish retail group came up with the concept after accessories at its fashion chains – which include Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and Pull and Bear – showed strong growth.

Üterque has been 18 months in the making, but its launch comes at an interesting time given that retail sales in Spain have slowed prompting speculation that the country is in recession. In May Spain's retail sales were down 5.3% on last year.

 This week Inditex was reported to be in advanced talks with DLF, a real estate and shopping centre developer in India, about a joint venture franchise agreement to open stores in the country.