Castro (TASE: CAST): founded 1950 on Allenby Road, Tel Aviv. ~180 stores. Israeli Olympic uniforms since 1996. Gal Gadot ambassador since 2008. Israel's longest-running fashion house.
From an Allenby Road Dress Shop in 1950 to Israel's Fashion House — With Gal Gadot on the Billboard
Castro (קסטרו, TASE: CAST) is the Israeli fashion house that Aharon Castro opened as a dress shop on Allenby Road (רחוב אלנבי) in Tel Aviv in 1950 — and that has dressed Israeli consumers for seven decades, including designing the Israeli Olympic team uniforms since 1996. Since 2008, Gal Gadot has been the brand's leading model.
Castro operates approximately 180 stores across Israel under multiple brands: Castro (women's, men's, kids), Castro Men, Castro Kids, Hoodies, Top Ten, Urbanica, and Carolina Lemke (eyewear). Through subsidiary A.R. Botanical Cosmetics, Castro is also the exclusive Israeli distributor of Yves Rocher and KIKO Milano.
The company is publicly traded on the TASE (CAST). Chairman: Aharon Castro. CEO and Director: Gabriel Rotter. CEO and Director: Esther Rotter. Headquartered in Bat Yam (בת ים).
Aharon Castro and the Founding
Aharon Castro opened his first shop on Allenby Road in 1950. His mother, Anina (also called Nina) — a well-known dressmaker who ran a design salon from the family apartment — joined as the first designer. The early goal: quality, stylish, ready-made clothing at a reasonable price.
Israel's fashion market in the 1950s and 1960s was effectively closed to imports. High tariffs protected domestic producers, and Castro was among the few ready-to-wear manufacturers in the country. Aharon took over the company's design direction in the 1960s, pushing toward youth-oriented fashions — bold colors, batik fabrics, the hallmarks of the era.
By the 1970s, Castro was a major supplier to Israel's department store chains — Shekem and Hamashbir. The first direct retail operation, the Rio factory outlet in Tel Aviv, opened in 1965, run by Aharon's wife Lina.
IPO and Expansion
Castro went public on the TASE in 1992. The IPO fueled rapid retail expansion. By the late 1990s, Castro operated over 40 women's fashion stores. Castro Men launched in 2000. Castro Kids followed in 2013. International expansion began in 2003 with stores in Germany.
The three-story Castro flagship store in Tel Aviv — at a prominent corner of the city center — became an anchor for the brand's identity. The red-and-white Castro label became one of the most recognized in Israel.
Competition and Challenges
When Israel liberalized imports in the late 1990s, foreign competitors flooded the market — Zara, Gap, H&M, Mango. Castro held its position as market leader through brand loyalty and its design reputation, but the competitive pressure was structural. Fox Group emerged as the most aggressive domestic competitor, eventually overtaking Castro in total retail scale through franchise operations and multi-brand strategy.
Castro's response: diversify into cosmetics (Yves Rocher franchise since 1994), eyewear (Carolina Lemke), accessories (DIVA, in partnership with UK-based DCK Concessions), and casual/streetwear (Hoodies, Top Ten, Urbanica).
Key Facts
Founded: 1950 · Allenby Road (רחוב אלנבי), Tel Aviv
Founder: Aharon Castro (chairman)
TASE listing: CAST · IPO 1992
Headquarters: Bat Yam (בת ים), Israel
CEOs: Gabriel Rotter · Esther Rotter
Stores: ~180 in Israel
Brands: Castro · Castro Men · Castro Kids · Hoodies · Top Ten · Urbanica · Carolina Lemke
Franchise brands: Yves Rocher (Israel) · KIKO Milano (Israel)
Notable: Israeli Olympic team uniforms since 1996 · Gal Gadot brand ambassador since 2008
Fashion award: Israel's Fashion “Oscar”