In continuation of Zara’s 50th anniversary, the household brand has tapped 50 creative luminaries to create a special limited-edition collection. The list includes some of fashion’s most famous faces, among them Kate Moss, Nick Knight, and Steven Meisel, for a 50-piece collection featuring clothing, homewares, accessories, and more. Set to launch on October 6, it will also offer archival re-creations from designers such as Anna Sui and fragrances from Fabien Baron.
Each of the 50 items was created with the intention of being a collector’s piece and is personal to one of the people on the list. Cindy Crawford chose to re-create a bodysuit and denim shorts set to mimic one of her most iconic ’90s looks. Narciso Rodriguez revived an archival spring 2003 dress that will now be available to purchase by today’s generation for just under $250. To make things even sweeter, all the proceeds from the Zara 50 Creators project will be donated to the nonprofit Women’s Earth Alliance as well as a charity of choice picked by each participant.
As for how Zara was able to get all these industry stalwarts to participate in the project? It was an easy answer for most. As supermodel Linda Evangelista put it in an interview with Vogue Runway, “Oh, my God, the list of the 50. And I made the cut. What an honor. There’s the most incredible talent on the list: Marc Newson, Norman Foster…” That sentiment was echoed by a number of the creators, many of whom also mentioned friendships with Inditex chairperson Marta Ortega Pérez. Fondness for the brand certainly helped; Zara has now been around for 50 years and become a fashion go-to even for fashion icons.
Below, Sui, Evangelista, Guido Palau, Karlie Kloss, and Ludovic de Saint Sernin share their favorite Zara memories as well as some insight into their creations.
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How did you get involved with the Zara 50 Creators project?
It was such an honor to get that email that they wanted to include me. I had met Marta when I went to Spain for the Steven Meisel exhibition, and that was just phenomenal. So I was absolutely thrilled when I heard from them.
Can you recall a favorite Zara item or shopping memory?
I guess it was the Meisel collection. I mean, that was made in heaven. The boutique was so cool. All the clothes that they did were so Steven. I remember those pieces through the years in his personal wardrobe, and it was just the epitome of cool with all that leather and some of the dark flannel plaid and the jeans, great boots, and shoes. I think it came out during show time, so I ran there, and it was like a super-micro sweep, trying to pick as much as I could from the collection.
Your Zara 50 Creators look is based on an archival piece. How did you decide which one to reference?
We wanted something iconic. When people talk about the Anna Sui look, there’s always a schoolgirl. So that was my tongue-in-cheek version of schoolgirl—very sexy spandex, a tight schoolgirl dress with a white collar and cuffs. It has a guard belt that has stockings, and there’s a really fun belt that is all these bright black plastic charms on a black plastic chain that you wear down on your hip. So there are a lot of fun little touches.
Nicole Phelps recently noted a resurgence of interest in your work among a younger audience. Given that vintage and archival pieces can be quite expensive, how do you feel about younger generations now having more accessible ways to own one of your designs?
I’m so excited about that because I think that maybe this one will really be something that they can embrace and maybe wear even for the next 20 years. Because as you age, I think it’s almost classic. It’s a shirtdress with a white collar and cuffs in black, so [it works differently] depending on how you accessorize it.
How did you get involved in the Zara 50 Creators project?
I received a really nicely written letter from Marta, and I thought, I have a million ideas, but then I had to narrow it down to just one, and that was the hardest part, committing to what I wanted to showcase. And it was so nice that part of our deal was that they would give us funds toward the charity of our choice. I chose Save the Elephants and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
Can you recall a favorite Zara item or shopping memory?
When something comes home with me, it stays for good. I rewear my clothing over and over. And I have to say, there are a lot of things from the Steven Meisel collection I will never relinquish. One piece is a gray and black flannel shirt. I wish I had a second one. And then I have a beautiful Meisel scarf. It’s huge, but I keep it draped over one of my chairs.
How did you decide to create a bathrobe as your item?
Well, I used to have something that the moths got to that was from years and years and years ago. That was sort of what I was thinking, but I wanted it to go beyond my home. Also, packing is so hard in the winter. In the summer, you can literally take your whole wardrobe with you because it fits in a suitcase, so fine and thin and linen. In the winter, you have to choose a coat or maybe two, to get them in your suitcase. You just can’t bring all your coats with you. And I thought, What if I could just take one coat with me and it does everything? It would be the bathrobe. In choosing the fabric, I wanted pure luxury, so I was sent beautiful fabrics to choose from. And then they sent me something, saying, ‘Don’t look at the fabric; just look at it for color,’ because I was aiming for a beautiful charcoal. And I said, ‘But what is this fabric?’ And it was cashmere with a little hint of wool in it. So I decided to use that. Just a little bit of wool to make it cozier and give it more body.
How will you be styling your cashmere robe?
I’m just going to live in it.
How did you get involved in the Zara 50 Creators project?
I feel like I’ve been part of the Zara family for so many years now. I’ve worked with them on very many different levels as a hairdresser, collaborating on their campaigns and things. And then I also worked with them on their new hair-care line. So we have a special relationship.
Can you recall a favorite Zara item or shopping memory?
I have great memories of going to the head offices in A Coruña 20 years ago, where we first started shooting, and spending great times with them having great lunches. They are always so generous and have great food.
Tell us about your items for the project.
We’ve done so many beautiful hair pictures. I thought it would be great to put them in one keepsake book. So I created that book with Baron and Baron, and thought it’d be fun to have a wig hairpiece that you can cut out and frame; it’s like a funny art piece. Each wig has been hand-cut and numbered. The look of it is very synonymous with my style. It has a sort of punk element to it. They’ll all be individual and there’s a punchiness, a Warhol-ness to it.
How did you get involved in the Zara 50 Creators project?
Marta has been a friend for years and is someone whose vision I greatly admire. When she asked me to be part of this project, it felt like such a personal way to celebrate the milestone. I love seeing how vastly different and personal the items everyone designed are.
Can you recall a favorite Zara item or shopping memory?
I’ve loved Zara for as long as I can remember, but I have to say, I have a whole new appreciation for its incredible kids apparel.
Why did you choose a Dopp kit for your item?
I’ve always been a bag lady—ask anyone I know and they will tell you I have bags within my bag and every snack or charger you might need. So I couldn’t think of anything more essential to make and share with others than a fun little Dopp kit for everyday travels and life.
What’s inside your “In Kloss of Emergency” bag?
The works: gum, a sewing kit, notebook, kids’ snacks, lip balm, Estée Lauder Double Wear concealer, Good Girl travel size perfume, hair ties, Band-Aids, sanitizer, and sunglasses (usually two pairs). My kids love sneaking in lollipops and little race cars, too.
Ludovic de Saint Sernin
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How did you get involved in the Zara 50 Creators project?
I was invited to the Irving Penn retrospective that they did last year in A Coruña, and I met Marta there and loved her. She’s such an incredible woman, and it was such a beautiful event.
Can you recall a favorite Zara item or shopping memory?
I love its home collection—I have a Zara lamp that I use at home every day. That’s one of the reasons why I decided to design a chair. Also, I adored the collection with Vincent Van Duysen.
How did you decide on your item?
I had never done any furniture before, and I thought this was my opportunity to try something new. The brand has such a recognizable identity, but when you see the chair, you’ll also know that it’s me. The development and the creative with the Zara team was amazing. They were able to literally purchase a machine to do beautiful hand-stitches, and it was really an amazing experience to be able to design this.
Where will you keep your Zara collector’s item?
I don’t have the prettiest office just yet, but once I do, it’ll be one of the first pieces there for sure. But definitely I want to have a set of two in my house: I’m excited for my friends to get some, too.
The collection will be available to shop on Monday, October 6, on Zara.com.
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