Inditex

Zara removed a blue-and-white striped Halloween children's costume from its assortment after critics drew parallels to the clothing of concentration camp prisoners. The press office said the product is no longer available online or in stores and regretted the misunderstanding. The incident follows earlier similar controversies; Inditex's share price was only marginally higher on Monday. » More on finanzen.net

Zara removed a blue-and-white striped children's Halloween costume with sewn-on numbers and barbed-wire-like motifs from its range after critics drew parallels to the clothing of concentration camp inmates. The press office expressed regret for any misunderstandings and confirmed the product would be removed online and in stores. It remained unclear why internal checks did not notice the similarity. This is not the first time Zara has faced criticism over products with Nazi-related references. » More on finanzen.net

Inditex is expanding its presence in the US and plans new stores in cities such as Denver, Phoenix and Pittsburgh, as well as launching Massimo Dutti and Bershka in New York. CEO Oscar Garcia Maceiras emphasizes sequential, selective growth and profitable locations; demand will be tested via online orders before openings. Globally, Inditex is focusing on larger flagship stores and is benefiting from consumers shifting luxury purchases to cheaper brands like Zara, a move that recently helped the group surpass Hermès on the stock market. » More on manager-magazin.de