AKORT: Zara's trademark registration not proof of return
The registration of a trademark by Zara in Russia has sparked speculation about its potential return, but officials from the Association of Omni-Channel Retail Companies (AKORT) dismissed such talk as premature, emphasizing that trademark registration is a standard practice for protecting intellectual property regardless of market presence.
Consensus
- The registration of a Zara trademark in Russia occurred in August 2026.
- The registration of a trademark is considered a standard practice for protecting intellectual property by international companies.
- AKORT's chairman, Stanislav Bogdanov, stated that discussions about Zara's return to Russia are premature.
- The Russian fashion retail market has undergone significant transformation in recent years.
- New domestic brands have emerged and are developing in place of previously exited international brands.
- The Russian fashion market is described as dynamic and competitive.
- Zara's parent company, Inditex, ceased operations in Russia in March 2022 and sold its Russian business in October 2023.
- The trademark registration under the name ZA allows for the sale of cosmetics, perfumes, optics, mobile devices, and photographic equipment in Russia.
Points of divergence
- Zara submitted trademark application in spring 2025, and Rospatent approved it in August 2026. — vedomosti
- The brands Maag, Ecru, Vilet, and DUB were launched in 2023 and are not affiliated with Inditex. — vedomosti
- The Inditex Russian business was sold to Daher Group in Lebanon. — vedomosti
- On 24 July, Russian State Duma deputy Alexander Tolmachev stated that American brands considering return to Russia would face serious challenges. — vesti
Coverage (4 sources)
- In AKORTE, conversations about returning Zara to Russia were deemed premature — Коммерсантъ
- In AKORT, discussion of returning Zara called premature — Ведомости
- Speaking about the possible return of Zara to the Russian market based on trademark registration is premature, said in an interview with TASS at the VEB chairman of AKORT Stanislav Bogdanov. — ТАСС (Telegram)
- AKORT: It is too early to talk about Zara returning to the RF — Вести