Lefties, the budget-friendly sibling of Zara, is set to open its first UK store in Liverpool this summer, marking a major expansion for the Inditex-owned brand. The retailer will debut at Liverpool ONE, the UK's largest open-air shopping centre, at the end of August.
Expansion plans beyond Liverpool
Inditex announced that Lefties will open two additional stores: one at Lakeside shopping centre in Essex in early October and another at Gateshead's Metrocentre in November. Both locations already host other Inditex brands and Primark, Lefties' main rival. In London, potential sites include Oxford Street and Westfield London, but Lefties global director Xavier Ruz stated the company is "not in a hurry to open a lot of stores" and will learn from its first three UK locations before expanding further.
What is Lefties?
Lefties first opened in 1993 as an outlet for Zara's last-season stock, hence the name. It currently operates in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, Morocco, the UAE, and other countries. The Gateshead store will be 50,000 square feet, selling womenswear, menswear, homeware, accessories, and footwear. The brand offers significantly lower prices than Zara, with dresses from around £8 and basic tees from £5 on its Spanish website, compared to Zara's basics starting at £12.99.
Competition with Primark
Primark, with £9.44 billion in sales in 2024 (up 6% from £9 billion in 2023), faces increasing competition from fast-fashion rivals like Shein and Temu. Its parent company, Associated British Foods Plc, projects a levelling out of sales in the second half of 2026. Lefties already competes with Primark in Spain, Primark's second-largest market, and its UK arrival will intensify high street and online competition. Beyond Britain, Lefties plans to expand into the Middle East, North Africa, and relaunch in France.
