Isak Andic, founder of Spanish clothing retail giant Mango died on Saturday in an accident, the company revealed in a press release.
The fashion estate owner, aged 71, tragically died in a mountain accident in Collbató, Barcelona. According to Spanish media, he fell while hiking with several family members near Barcelona.
“It is with deep regret that we announce the unexpected death of Isak Andic, our non-executive chairman and founder of Mango,” chief executive Toni Ruiz stated.
Born in Istanbul in 1953 and later moving to Barcelona in his youth, Isak Andic, with the help of his older brother Nahman, opened a small shirt shop on Paseo de Gracia, Barcelona’s famous shopping street, which he transformed into Mango, one of the most internationally renowned fashion brands today.
The release said, “Isak has been an example for all of us. He dedicated his life to Mango, leaving an indelible mark thanks to his strategic vision, his inspiring leadership and his unwavering commitment to values that he himself imbued in our company. His legacy reflects the achievements of a business project marked by success, and also by his human quality, his proximity and the care and affection that he always had and at all times conveyed to the entire organization.”
The venture emerged as a massive success, coming at a time when Spain had just come out from a decades-long dictatorship, which ended with the death of General Francisco Franco in 1975. Consumers were eager for more modern clothing.
The fashion company, which operates nearly 2,800 stores worldwide, recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, marking record-breaking achievements with over 3 billion euros in sales and operations in more than 115 international markets.