The Inditex family is to lose one of its members. The fashion giant, based in Arteixo (A Coruña), announced after presenting its balance sheet this Wednesday (15 September), that over the next year its Uterqüe brand will be integrated into Massimo Dutti.

All the Uterqüe stores will close and its range of products will become available only through Massimo Dutti, on its website and in selected stores.

In Malaga province, this decision would directly affect three stores: two located in Marbella and the one that the firm opened in Malaga city, on Calle Larios, in February 2020.

The objective, according to Inditex, is "to take full advantage of the market penetration and awareness that Massimo Dutti has in international markets such as the United States, Canada, Mexico and Turkey." Massimo Dutti is present in 74 markets, while Uterqüe only sells in 16.

As of 31 July, Uterqüe had 82 stores, seven less than a year ago. Of them, about thirty are located in Spain. In the first six months of 2021 fiscal year, the brand had a turnover of 48 million euros, 55 per cent more than a year ago, although it was still below the levels of 2019. In fact, it has been one of the brands most hit during the pandemic, by focusing its offer more on party clothes and special occasions, that were severely limited by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Uterqüe premiered in July 2008 with three simultaneous openings in A Coruña, Madrid and Barcelona. Initially it specialised in accessories but over time, it diversified its offer including women's clothing and even launched a men's line, which it ended up withdrawing.

In Malaga, Uterqüe opened with a store in the Larios centre that it ended up closing. It currently has two stores in Marbella, in the La Cañada shopping centre and on Calle Ramón Arecer. In February 2020 it returned to Malaga city with a 112-square-metre-store on Calle Larios.