Isak Andic, Mango Founder, Dies in Tragic Caving Incident

The world of fashion mourns the loss of Isak Andic, the founder of Mango, who tragically died in a caving accident while exploring the Montserrat mountains.

Isak Andic, the billionaire visionary behind the high street fashion empire Mango, has passed away at the age of 71 following an accident while caving near Barcelona on Saturday. Reports from Spanish media reveal that Andic lost his life after falling down a ravine during a hiking excursion, accompanied by his son and family members. The incident occurred in the Montserrat mountain range, an area notorious for its sheer cliffs and deep caves.

Emergency services were alerted shortly after 1:00 PM local time, leading to a prompt response with the deployment of a helicopter and specialized mountain rescue teams. According to Forbes, Andic's substantial contributions to the fashion industry had amassed him a net worth of approximately $4.5 billion (£3.6 billion). He co-founded Mango in 1984 with his brother Nahman and grew the brand to nearly 3,000 stores across 120 countries.

The specifics of the accident revealed that Andic fell approximately 150 meters, a tragedy that prompted an outpouring of condolences from the fashion community. Mango's CEO, Toni Ruiz, highlighted the significant impact Andic had on the company, stating that his legacy would live on in the brand's future endeavors.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his sorrow over Andic's passing, praising his remarkable business acumen which helped elevate Mango to a leading position in the global fashion market. Catalonia's president, Salvador Illa Roca, also conveyed his shock and reflected on Andic’s invaluable contributions to the region and its economy.

Having relocated to Catalonia in the 1960s, Andic remained closely tied to the region, serving as a non-executive chairman of Mango at the time of his death. Under his leadership, Mango garnered a remarkable turnover of €3.1 billion (£2.6 billion) in 2023, and his brand has been in competition with fellow Spanish fashion mogul Amancio Ortega of Zara fame. Notably, Andic's collaboration with British supermodel Kate Moss in 2011 significantly bolstered Mango's market presence in the UK, further cementing his legacy in the fashion world.