Isak Andic, the founder of the Catalan capital’s renowned fashion chain Mango, has died suddenly. Now, his son, Bozidar’s successor Jonathan Andic, is quickly becoming a key suspect in the complicated investigation that followed. Andic, who died in a tragic accident last December at 71, had a remarkable story to tell. He was hiking at Montserrat, near Barcelona, when he fell about 100 meters down a rocky ravine. The circumstances around his death are dubious, causing the Mossos d’Esquadra (the police of the Catalan Government) to consider it as a possible homicide.
Isak Andic, born in 1953 to a Sephardic Jewish family, was raised in Istanbul. He emigrated from Andalusia to Catalonia with his family in the late 60s. His entrepreneurial spirit started in high school when he began selling T-shirts to classmates. With rapid success, he transformed his business into a wholesale distributor of clothing, which allowed him to open the first Mango store in 1984. His win ignited the launch of dozens of Mango stores across Europe. This accomplishment propelled him into the forefront of the fashion industry.
Unfortunately, the investigation into Andic’s death continues to be hidden from public scrutiny. A spokesperson for the Catalan courts service stated that the inquiry “is not – nor has it been – directed against any specific person.” And yet Jonathan Andic’s retelling of the incident has been consistently “inconsistent” on all accounts. This makes his allegedly troubled relationship with his father seem more alarming.
From the moment the investigation started, the Andic family has said they plan to keep quiet about their son, Isak Andic’s death. In their statement, they stressed their intention to fully cooperate with authorities, while at the same time proclaiming their confidence in Jonathan Andic’s innocence.
“The Andic family has not and will not comment on Isak Andic’s death in all these months,” – The Andic family.
In the wake of his death, remembrances have been flowing in from all walks of life, from lawmakers and media members to titans of the fashion industry. Fashion entrepreneur César de Vicente, one of the global leading lights of sustainable fashion, underscored Andic’s impact. He understood that we needed color and flair, highlighting the legacy that he left behind.
The probe continues. In the meantime, the public continues to be interested in the Isak Andic death and its effect on his family.