Zalando was founded in 2008 by 

Rocket Internet, Robert Gentz and David Schneider, initially

under the name Ifansho.[7]The name was then changed to Zalando, a reference to the Italian
word zalare (meaning "making jokes").
Inspired by US online retailer Zappos.com,[8] Zalando initially specialized in the sale of footwear.
In 2010, the company launched in the Netherlands and France and added apparel to its portfolio.
In 2011, it opened online retail sites in the UK, Italy and Switzerland. In the following year
Zalando expanded to Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Spain and Poland. In 2012
Zalando began operating outside of Germany offering deliveries to Austria.
Since 2013, following examples of tech companies from the East, especially China, Zalando
changed into a European digital platform. Emulating Chinese companies, Zalando set off into
remaking itself into a digital shopping mall, allowing fashion houses and retailers to make sales
via the Partner Program as well, often with limited input from Zalando. [9]
In 2014 Zalando was listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.[10] Since 22 June 2015 Zalando has
been included in the MDAX. In 2015, Zalando started collaborating with Topshop and began
selling merchandise online. Advertisements featuring the model Cara Delevingne were broadcast
in Germany, Switzerland and France.[11]
In June 2015, the fashion trade fair "Bread & Butter" was acquired by Zalando, with the intention
to open the globally important event to a broader audience as a "fashion festival". [12] The first
edition of "Bread & Butter by Zalando" took place in 2016, hosting 20,000 visitors at Arena Berlin.
Zalando announced the discontinuation of "Bread & Butter" due to a shift in strategy two years
later.[13]
In March 2017, Zalando acquired Kickz, a German company, for an unknown sum. At the time,
Kickz owned 15 shops across Germany, all specialized in basketball footwear. [14]
In 2018, Zalando launched Beauty in Germany, Poland and Austria and opened a beauty concept
store in Berlin offering a regularly changing range of beauty products. [15]
In February 2018, Zalando expanded its collaboration with physical retailers in Germany. [16]
In June 2018, Zalando expanded its operations to Ireland and the Czech Republic. The markets
are served over the existing logistic sites of Zalando. [17]
In October 2020, a general works council with 31 members was elected for the first time in
history, with a first meeting on November 11th 2020.[18][19]
In December 2020, co-CEO Rubin Ritter announced that he would be stepping down next year,
two years before the end of his contract, to allow his wife to pursue her professional ambitions. [20]