Spanish Shoe Factories in Alicante Reopen to Produce Face Masks

March 23, 2020

[x_section style=”margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px; padding: 45px 0px 45px 0px; “][x_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” bg_color=”” style=”margin: 0px auto 0px auto; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_column bg_color=”” type=”1/4″ style=”padding: 10px 10px 10px 10px; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 1px; “][x_text class=”center-text “]by Danny de la Cruz and Mabel Gago

Photo credit: Courtesy of Pedro Miralles; video by Antonio Vilda of Pikolinos[/x_text][/x_column][x_column bg_color=”” type=”3/4″ style=”padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; “][x_text]With the current pandemic, we are shining a spotlight on the fashion industry and fashion brands from around the globe who are doing what they can to support those in need. We’re starting off in Spain, one of the first few countries outside of China which was heavily impacted by the spread of COVID-19.

Spain is well known for its footwear industry, but these days, several factories in the city of Alicante, Spain, have converted their space and resources, along with the aid of numerous volunteers, to the production of disposable face masks for healthcare professionals and citizens alike.

Under normal times, the city of Alicante is where you’ll find many shoemakers and local artisans producing luxury heels for global brands such as Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. But since the lockdown of Spain on March 13th and the closure of many businesses during this pandemic, shoe factories have been impacted and forced to close.

Instead of remaining idle, brands such as UNISA, POPA, MENORQUINAS and Pedro Miralles, along with a group of women from Petrel and countless other women from the artisan footwear industry quickly banded together and reopened the shoe factories to produce much needed face masks, including hospital gowns.

What started as an idea by INESCOP, a center for technology and innovation in the footwear sector, has now become a national movement within the Spanish fashion industry to support the battle against this pandemic.

Get a glimpse of the work being done in the video below.