ZARA

oPened in Spain in 1975, Zara featured cut- price designer lookalikes. Reached London in 1998 and has 7,000 shops in 50 countries.

FAMOUS FACES: Fans include the Middletons, Sienna Miller, Lisa Snowdon (left), Alexa Chung and Maria Sharapova.

FINANCIAL HEALTH: Goes from strength to strength in the uK, with annual uK sales up 17 per cent to £704 million, while profits stand at £40.8 million, up a third from the previous 12 months.

EXPERTS SAY: ‘What’s clever is that while it’s a global giant, it behaves like an agile start-up,’ says financial commentator Maggie Pagano.

‘It can get clothes into stores quicker than anyone else, and it allows managers to control ordering locally.’ BESTSELLING ITEM: Snakeskin print shoes, £49.99. FUTURE FORECAST: Aiming to sell online globally by 2020.