Lefties, the sister brand of Zara owned by Inditex, has opened its first UK store at Liverpool ONE, with queues of close to 100 people forming before the doors opened. The store officially opened at 9.30am, but crowds had already gathered by 8am when a preview was held.
The new 35,000 sq ft flagship store occupies the space in South John Street that Sports Direct previously used. It stocks women's, men's, teen, kids, baby, newborn, home, accessories and footwear collections.
Retail technology and store features
The venue focuses on customer experience with the latest retail technology already seen at the brand's recent European openings. This includes smart fitting rooms leading to an automated clothes sorter, robotic hanger sorters, and radio-frequency identification-assisted checkouts that avoid the need to scan each item separately.
Lefties was founded in 1999 and has been developing since, launching its own collections over a decade ago. The brand operates in 20 countries across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Expansion plans and jobs
In 2026, Lefties plans to open three UK stores, with Liverpool ONE first, followed by Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex and Metrocentre in Gateshead. These stores are expected to create more than 400 direct locally recruited jobs, with 150 in Liverpool.
Brendan Hattam, centre director at Liverpool ONE, said: "We're incredibly proud to be home to the very first Lefties store in the UK. This exciting new arrival will further strengthen our unique, top-tier line-up of fashion and lifestyle brands, offering guests something they can't find anywhere else in the country."
Brand statements and customer experience
Xavier Ruz Riera, general director of Lefties, said: "Following the recent opening of our store in France, we are continuing our selective international expansion. As one of the world's leading fashion retail markets, the UK is a natural next step offering an exciting destination for our brand."
He added: "We believe there is a strong opportunity to bring our proposition to UK customers, offering quality fashion and home collections for the whole family at accessible prices through a seamless in-store and online shopping experience."
At Liverpool ONE, Lefties is also rolling out a limited-time on-site activation, including a coffee pop-up offering complimentary drinks in collaboration with BEAN, and an installation designed as a temporary photo opportunity for visitors.
