Zara opens redesigned store at Trafford Centre with modular concept

Zara has unveiled its latest store concept at the Trafford Centre shopping center in Manchester (England), characterized by individualized spaces and new technology.

Inditex has reopened this flagship location following a major renovation, expanding the store’s commercial area by 40% to 4,800 square meters. The updated layout reflects the brand’s latest concept focused on personalization and retail innovation.

The store, which offers women’s, men’s, and children’s fashion collections, has also grown its workforce by 40%, now employing 270 people. This reinforces Zara’s commitment to delivering an innovative retail experience that blends fashion, architecture, sustainability, and customer-centric technology into one unified space.

Each section, an autonomous unit

A core feature of the new store is that each section operates as an autonomous unit, using distinct visual cues while maintaining a cohesive design language across the space. The result is a differentiated shopping experience that remains connected to Zara’s broader brand identity. Dedicated areas have also been introduced for perfumes and exclusive product lines such as Zara Origins and Zara Athleticz.

The project, designed by Zara’s in-house architectural team, organizes the store as a series of interconnected rooms, each with a refreshed layout, updated displays, and a refined, immersive atmosphere.

“The space is conceived as a neutral container, layered with modular and lightweight architectural elements, configuring each section as an independent unit within the whole,” the company explained. This concept was developed based on customer research, aiming to highlight the uniqueness of each room while maintaining an overarching narrative. Flexibility and rapid adaptability are key to the design.

Furniture also plays a strategic role in these boutique-style spaces. Materials such as wood, steel, ceramic, and marble are mixed to create visual harmony. Dedicated zones highlight footwear, handbags, and lines like Zara Athleticz, with displays positioned to draw visibility from outside the store.

The façade reflects the interior’s layout, dividing the women’s, men’s, children’s, and TRF sections into clearly marked zones with separate entrances and visual treatments—almost as if they were independent stores. Inside, the layout is designed to support seamless navigation across all departments.

“The portico, featuring the main logo, anchors the overall concept and visually unites each section,” Zara added. The brand also debuted a redesigned shopping and returns area aimed at delivering a faster, more personalized customer journey.

New version of the assisted checkouts

The Spanish brand—now celebrating its 50th anniversary—is continuing its push for tech-driven retail innovation. Its goal is to enhance the customer experience while allowing staff to focus more on customer interaction and less on operational tasks.

A key feature is the integration of smart sales tables. These enable customers to place selected items directly on the table and pay using a card or mobile device, streamlining the process. For cash payments, Zara has introduced a new version of assisted checkouts with an upgraded design.

To improve back-end efficiency, the store also incorporates an automated sorting and replenishment system. It processes both fitting room returns and online order returns, automatically identifying each item and redirecting it to its proper section for restocking.

Additionally, the Manchester location is piloting a project that utilizes this automation to expedite the receipt of new merchandise, resulting in faster and more precise restocking.