The family of Isak Andic (main image), founder of the fashion retailer Mango, has defended his son’s innocence following reports in Spanish media suggesting he had become a potential suspect in the billionaire’s death.
Andic, 71, died last December after reportedly plunging about 100 metres down a ravine while hiking with his son Jonathan near Montserrat, close to Barcelona. His death sparked an outpouring of tributes from politicians, journalists, and figures in the fashion world. ALSO READ: Founder of Spanish fashion brand Mango, dies in accident, aged 71.
While Catalan police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, initially treated the incident as a tragic accident, both El País and La Vanguardia reported this week that the police and the examining judge are now investigating it as a possible homicide.
According to El País, police and judicial sources said Jonathan’s version of events was ‘inconsistent’, and that Andic’s partner, golfer Estefanía Knuth, told investigators ‘the relationship between father and son was bad’.
The paper said that although no direct or conclusive evidence had been found, officers had ‘come across a series of clues which, when taken together, had led them to move away from the idea of a mere accident and toward the possibility of a homicide’.
La Vanguardia reported that last month the judge in charge of the case reclassified Jonathan’s status from witness to potential suspect.
In a statement released to the media, the Andic family said: ‘The Andic family has not and will not comment on Isak Andic’s death in all these months.’
‘However, they wish to show their respect for the ongoing investigations and will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities, as they have done so far. They are also confident that this process will be concluded as soon as possible and that Jonathan Andic’s innocence will be proven.’
A spokesperson for the Mossos said they could not comment while the investigation remained under judicial secrecy. The Catalan courts service also confirmed the proceedings were confidential.
Born in Istanbul in 1953 to a Sephardic Jewish family, Isak Andic emigrated to Catalonia with his relatives in the late 1960s. He began selling T-shirts to classmates before running a small wholesale operation and trading clothes in local markets.
He went on to open the first Mango store in 1984 and very soon expanded across Europe.
Mango now has 2,700 stores in 120 markets around the world. It is currently expanding in the US and plans to have 65 stores there by the end of 2025.
Like its main domestic rival Inditex, the world’s biggest fashion retailer and owner of the popular Zara brand, Mango strives to quickly adjust its production to the latest fashion trends while offering affordable prices.
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