Zara is a Spanish clothing retailer known for its vertically integrated supply chain. Some key aspects of Zara's supply chain include designing clothes in-house, producing fabrics and cutting patterns internally, and completing production close to distribution centers to enable shipping finished goods to stores within 2-3 weeks. This vertically integrated model allows Zara to bring new fashion designs to stores much faster than competitors, introducing over 12,000 designs per year compared to an industry average of 2,000-4,000. Zara's supply chain responsiveness has helped the company achieve higher profit margins through reduced markdowns and an ability to replenish best-selling items.