A store with unique style

“You have a Zara in Bahrain, right?”inquired my dear friend Lisa Buydens before she embarked on her long journeyfrom Canada to our beloved kingdom.

I am still wondering if it was a decidingfactor for her visit because when she arrived we quickly made a trip to BahrainCity Centre so she could spend her ‘Zara’ budget.

This visit took place four years ago so Iwas fairly new to Bahrain and had not even visited the store myself yet. Sheeducated me on Zara’s style and quality. “You need to try things on to see howthey fit and feel”, she said, with a matter of fact tone.

I joined her in selecting an armful ofclothing and we had our own little fashion show in the dressing room area.

In our home city in Canada there was noZara retail store and an online facility had not yet been made available.Needless to say, our shopping trip here ended happily, although at the start ithad all the hallmarks of a potential shopping tragedy. Hours earlier, Iactually lost her in the mall and she had no mobile phone and did not have mynumber, or my address … but that is another story.

Zara first opened in 1975 by Amancio Ortegawho owns other leading brands like Pull and Bear, Bershka, Massimo Dutti andStradivarious. These brands fall under the Inditex Group of Spain located in LaCoruna.

Zara’s success is attributed to the sameold winning philosophy – quality clothing at affordable prices. It specialisesin formal and informal wear with limited choices making their clothing itemsexclusive. This is very important because people like to be unique and do notlike to see everyone else wearing the same thing.

If my buddy Lisa was here right now shewould be beside herself because starting tomorrow Zara is holding a 70 per centoff sale. Earlier in the week I saw a rack of dresses down to BD6.900, a tableof beautiful sweaters down to BD15.900 and a rack of tights for BD9.900.Luckily, the store boasts an open floor plan because that place will be packedwith people, I predict.

Bershka is also holding a sale with itemsup to 60 per cent off. It targets the younger crowd with up-to-date trends andstyles. This Spanish brand rarely misses the mark and right now it has markeddown everything.

I saw cute graphic tees from BD5.900 downto BD3.900 in fun funky prints in soft muted tones or bold graffiti stylegraphics. When I was there on Monday there was a table of trousers and aseparate table of graphic tees with prices down to BD6.900. There are solidcolour shirts for BD3.900, cardigans for BD6.900, tights for BD4.900 andjackets for BD9.900.   

Other deals I’m privy to: Punt Roma – 70per cent off and new collection is in store, Piazza Italia – 50 per cent off,Oysho – further reductions off sale,Massimo Dutti – up to 60 per cent off