The founder of Mango, one of Europe's largest fashion retailers with nearly 2,800 stores globally Isak Andic, tragically passed away on Saturday in an accident, according to the company. While further pieces of information were not made known, Spanish media reports lead to the belief that the 71-year-old died after falling during a hiking trip with family members near Barcelona.
Toni Ruiz, the CEO of the Barcelona-based company said in a statement “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the unexpected passing of Isak Andic, our non-executive chairman and the founder of Mango.” “Isak was a true role model to all of us. He devoted his life to Mango, leaving an indelible legacy through his strategic vision, inspiring leadership, and unwavering commitment to the values he instilled in our company,” Ruiz added.
Andic was born in 1953 in Istanbul and moved to Barcelona at the age of 14 with his family. In 1984, he opened the first Mango store on the highly regarded Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona with the help of his older brother Nahman, putting his name on the beginning of a highly successful venture. At the time, Spain had just become visible from a decades-long dictatorship, and consumers were eager for modern fashion options.
Mango’s global retail director, Cesar de Vicente, recalled in a March 2024 interview with AFP, “He saw that we needed colour, style.” Andic quickly expanded, opening dozens of stores across Spain and internationally, beginning with neighbouring Portugal and France. Today, Mango is one of the leading international fashion groups, present in more than 120 markets and employing 15,500 people worldwide. In 2023, the company reported a turnover of 3.1 billion euros.
Mango, like its domestic rival Inditex (the parent company of Zara), has built its success on swiftly adapting to the latest fashion trends while keeping prices affordable. The company maintains a single brand identity and outsources its production, primarily to Turkey and Asia, as it does not own any factories.
De Vicente noted that Andic understood the power of brand consistency, saying, “He realized that having the same name and brand in all the shops would make the concept much stronger.”
A media-shy entrepreneur, Andic was one of Spain’s wealthiest individuals, with a net worth estimated by Forbes at $4.5 billion. “His legacy reflects the success of a business venture, but also his humanity, warmth, and the care he showed to everyone in the organization,” said Ruiz, adding, “His passing leaves an immense void.”
Catalonia's regional president, Salvador Illa, paid tribute to Andic, calling him “a committed businessman whose leadership helped elevate Catalonia and project it to the world. He leaves an indelible mark on both the Catalan and global fashion sectors,” Illa wrote on social media, expressing his condolences.
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