Mango founder Isak Andic dies aged 71 in mountain climbing accident

A billionaire fashion icon has died after falling from a mountain while hiking with family in Barcelona.

Billionaire fashion icon Isak Andic has died in a horrific mountain climbing accident.

The 71-year-old founder of popular fashion brand Mango fell over 100 metres from a cliff while hiking in the Montserrat caves near Barcelona, a police spokesperson confirmed.

He was with family members when he fell.

Police were called at around 1pm local time on Saturday. A helicopter and specialised mountain unit were sent to the scene, El Pais reported.

Mango fashion Isak Andic died in a horror mountain climbing accident. Picture: AFP

“His departure leaves a huge void but all of us are, in some way, his legacy and the testimony of his achievements,” Mango’s CEO, Toni Ruiz, said in a statement.

“It is up to us … to ensure that Mango continues to be the project that Isak was ambitious and proud of.”

Mango has 3,000 stores in 120 countries. Picture: LLUIS GENE / AFP)

The businessman was born in Istanbul, Turkey back in 1953 but emigrated to Spain with his family in 1969.

He created the fashion line Mango with the help of his brother, Nahman, in Barcelona in 1984 and the beloved chain now operates almost 3,000 outlets in 120 countries.

Andic’s net worth was reported to be at USD $4.5 billion, according to Forbes.

He was non-executive chairman of Mango when he died.

Andic was seen as a rival to Amancio Ortega, the owner of the world’s largest fast-fashion retailer Inditex.

Andic pictured with British supermodel Kate Moss. Picture: Getty Images

The company had a turnover of 3.1 billion euros in 2023 with 33% of its business online and a presence in markets around the world.

Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, expressed his sadness over the news on social media.

“My condolences to the family of Isak Andic, founder of Mango, on his tragic death in an accident in the Salnitre de Collbató caves,” he said on X.

“All my love and recognition for your great work and business vision, which has turned this Spanish firm into a world leader in fashion.

Andic, pictured with Scarlett Johansson, was a beloved fashion designer. Picture: Getty Images / Matti Hillig

Salvador Illa, the head of the regional government in Catalonia, Spain, hailed Andic as “a committed businessman who, with his leadership, has contributed to making Catalonia great and projecting it to the world”.

“He leaves an indelible mark on the Catalan and global fashion sector,” he said on X, offering his condolences.

The original Mango store on Barcelona's famous Passeig de Gràcia Picture: iStock

The Mango brand traces back to 1984 when Andic opened his first shop on the Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona’s famous shopping street, with help from his older brother Nahman.

It was a huge success. With Spain just emerging from a decades-long dictatorship that ended with the death of General Francisco Franco in 1975, local consumers at the time were crying out for more modern clothes.

Mango CEO Toni Ruiz added that the entire company shares the pain of his loss with his family “as if they were his own”.

Toni Ruiz, the CEO of Mango, expressed his sadness over the loss. Picture: Mango Website

“Isak has been an example for all of us. He dedicated his life to Mango, leaving an indelible mark thanks to his strategic vision, his inspiring leadership and his unwavering commitment to values that he himself imbued in our company,” Ruiz said.

“His legacy reflects the achievements of a business project marked by success, and also by his human quality, his proximity and the care and affection that he always had and at all times conveyed to the entire organization.

“In these extremely difficult times we share the pain of the family as if it were our own.”

Originally published as Mango founder Isak Andic dies aged 71 in mountain climbing accident