In a tribute to their visionary founder, more than 3,000 Mango employees gathered at the company’s campus Monday morning, December 16, to honour the life and legacy of Isak Andic.
Isak Andic Ermay, who transformed a small Barcelona T-shirt shop into the global fashion empire Mango, died Saturday, December 14, from injuries sustained in a hiking accident near Barcelona. He was 71.
Mango CEO Toni Ruiz announced the death, with company spokeswoman Glòria Torrent Caldas confirming that Andic died from injuries sustained in a fall while hiking.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also confirmed Andic died in an accident at the Salnitre de Collbató caves. The president of Catalonia’s government, Salvador Illa Roca, said he was “dismayed by the loss” and described Andic as a “committed businessman” who “contributed to making Catalonia great and projecting it to the world.”
Born to a Sephardic Jewish family in Istanbul, Turkey, on 1 October 1953, Andic’s family emigrated from Turkey to Barcelona, Spain, in 1969, where he and his brother Nahman began selling hand-embroidered “made-in-Turkey” T-shirts and clogs. They opened shops in Barcelona and Madrid, first selling their brand (Isak Jeans) and then stocking other brands. In 1984, he joined with fellow entrepreneur Enric Cusí and his brother and re-denominated all their stores under the name Mango. Andic chose the name “Mango” after tasting the fruit on a trip to the Philippines.
The Turkish-born entrepreneur steered Mango’s international expansion in 1992. The company entered the U.S. market in 2006 with a Los Angeles store, later establishing a significant presence in Manhattan’s SoHo district with an 8,000-square-foot flagship in 2008. This year, Mango accelerated its American expansion, targeting 40 U.S. locations by 2024 – a significant increase from just 10 stores in 2022.
Under Andic’s leadership, Mango became known for its rapid merchandise turnover and creative collections, competing directly with other fast-fashion giants like H&M and Zara. The company expanded beyond women’s wear to include menswear in 2008 and achieved a milestone in 2011 with its first international fashion show.
The memorial service, which brought together the Andic family, executive leadership, and CEO Toni Ruiz, celebrated Andic’s four decades of transformative leadership.
During the emotional ceremony, Ruiz addressed the assembled crowd, stating that “we are together, united, with the will to continue the project and legacy of Isak Andic.”
Reflecting on Andic’s impact and looking toward the company’s future, Ruiz shared: “He was a visionary, a leader, a great companion in the lives of all who knew him. No matter how far he had come, his mind was already on the next step. That is why we will follow his example; we will do it for him, for Mango, and we will do it as he would like: with a smile and all our energy.” He added that “the company is at the best moment in its history thanks to the efforts of each and every one of its employees and the support of the Andic family.”
The founder’s son, Jonathan Andic, spoke on behalf of the family, reinforcing their dedication to the company’s future: “This is just the beginning. Let us continue to honour his memory and legacy, keeping alive the values and teachings he left us. May his example inspire us to be better every day and to continue building the Mango of the future together.”
He is survived by his son Jonathan Andic, who serves as an executive board member at the company.
At the time of his death, the company operated more than 2,000 stores across five continents, with Andic’s wealth estimated at $4.5 billion, according to Forbes.
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