Zara

International high street brans en route to main street near you

RACHEL WELLS

July 4, 2010

AFTER years of speculation, Spanish retail giant Zara and Sweden's Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) are expected to announce the opening of their first Australian stores within months.

And according to industry insiders, it will only be a matter of time before other international fashion retailers, such as Banana Republic, Forever 21, Topshop, the Japanese fast fashion chain Uniqlo and the French-owned cosmetics chain Sephora, follow.

The foreign retailers would join American retailers Victoria's Secret, which opened its first Australian store at Sydney Airport in June, and Gap, which will open its first store in August, at Chadstone.

While Peter Lew, who has owned the Australian licence for Zara since 2000, declined to comment, the brand's Spanish-based owner Inditex confirmed Australia was in its sights. ''Australia is considered by Inditex Group as one of the potential markets included in future expansion plans,'' said a spokesman. ''Though we haven't yet made any decision about possible dates or locations for an eventual first opening.''

However, Westfield is believed to be in talks with Zara. And last month, the group asked participants in an online survey which retailers they'd most like to see at their nearest Westfield. Zara was on that list.

Source: SMH

This better be true. I do hope Forever 21, Topshop and Sephora come to Aus too.

Well, Incu in Paddington already sells Topshop but it's not an official store or anything.