Zara owner Inditex has confirmed its budget fashion chain Lefties will make its UK debut in Liverpool at the end of August.

The retailer is due to open at Liverpool ONE before launching at Lakeside shopping centre in Essex in early October and Gateshead’s Metrocentre in November.

The stores will introduce technology already used at Lefties’ latest European locations, including robotic hanger sorters and radio-frequency identification self-checkouts.

The automated system identifies discarded hangers by department and size before sorting them into boxes for staff. Its checkouts also recognise groups of tagged products without shoppers scanning each item separately.

Inditex launched Lefties in 1999 as an outlet for unsold Zara stock. The label had since developed into a standalone retailer with original clothing, footwear, accessories and home collections for adults and children.

Lefties operates 215 stores across 19 markets, with the UK set to become its 20th.

The expansion places the chain in direct competition with Primark and online value fashion rivals including Shein and Temu.

Lefties global director Xavier Ruz said the retailer was “not in a hurry to open a lot of stores” and planned to learn from its first three UK locations before pursuing further growth.

Its 50,000sq ft Metrocentre shop will sell womenswear and menswear alongside ranges for children and babies, the shopping centre said. It would also stock homeware, accessories and footwear.

The confirmed opening schedule followed Retail Gazette’s report in June 2025 that Inditex was searching for UK flagship sites for the low-priced brand.

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