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Daily Newsletter

30 November 2023

Daily Newsletter

Mango invests in robotic 3D printing company Ziknes

Spanish fashion retailer Mango is investing in Ziknes, a start-up that develops software and robotic 3D printing systems enabling it to go from design to print, with recycled materials, in a matter of minutes.

Mango will be investing through its StartUp Studio and providing financial support to Ziknes through a convertible participation loan.

The fashion retailer said this represents the entry of Ziknes in an acceleration programme through which entrepreneurs will learn at first-hand how Mango operates and be able to scale up their business model.

In addition, Ziknes team will receive advice and mentoring sessions from the company's experts in areas such as product design, specifically furniture design.

Ziknes was founded in 2021 and believes in "revolutionising manufacturing" by bringing together 3D printing and robotics, in order to improve efficiency, flexibility and sustainability in production. The start-up said it is committed to the use of low-energy technologies that focus on minimising material waste.

Mango StartUp Studio shared this is the fifth investment made since its launch in 2022.

To date, it has invested in companies such as the sustainability start-up specialising in the resale of textile waste, Recovo, and the technology start-up Union Avatars, a platform for digital identity and the development of avatars in different styles, among other start-ups.

Recently, Mango shared its expansion plans for the UK and Ireland with new store openings lined up in Manchester's Trafford Centre and Cork's St. Patrick's street.

Both the new UK Trafford centre store and Ireland Cork store feature Mango’s New Mediterranean-inspired store concept, aimed to reflect the spirit and freshness of the brand.

Mango envisages 13 store openings during 2023, mainly in the south and centre of the UK.

The Spanish retailer also launched its own conversational generative AI platform called Lisa to help employees improve the development of its collections and its after-sales service as part of a wider digital transformation strategy.

Personalization has grown alongside online retail

Personalization has increased as technologies have advanced, with a retailer’s ability to collect, analyze, and utilize consumer data being aided by the effective use of analytics tools. Consumers are also increasingly individualistic, especially Gen Z, and want products that are specifically targeted to their needs and goals. These consumers are often willing to pay a premium for such items. Although the opportunities for product personalization in apparel are rife, personalized products are generally not offered by mainstream retailers due to the higher costs involved.