Spanish Denim Makers on Valencia’s Post-Flooding Recovery
In late October, Southeast Spain experienced destructive and deadly flash flooding as heavy rain pelted the Valencia region. Over the course of eight hours, the region received the equivalent of its annual rainfall.
The disaster was the most severe flooding event in Europe since 1967. More than 200 people died, around half of whom were elderly, and over a dozen remain missing weeks later. Muddy water flowed down streets, picking up debris and cars, entering homes and leaving behind a layer of mud.
As the region continues to clean up, Carved in Blue reached out to local denim mills to hear how they are coping, what this tragedy means for the industry and what the world can do to help Spain at this time.
EVLOX
Noemí Sánchez, marketing manager
Carved in Blue: Why should the world be paying attention to this devastating event?
Noemí: These floods are not just a local event, but a reminder of the global challenges linked to climate change. As extreme weather events become more common, millions of people around the world are affected, with consequences that extend beyond the immediate area of the event. For the fashion industry, this incident highlights the vulnerability of global supply chains and the need to adopt more sustainable and resilient business practices. It is important for the world to be aware of the growing frequency of such situations. The way we respond today will influence the future of both the environment and the industries that depend on these systems.
Carved in Blue: What impact do you see the flooding having on the fashion industry?
Noemí: The flooding has highlighted the vulnerability of the fashion industry to climate risks, particularly concerning logistics chains and the sourcing of raw materials such as cotton. Extreme weather events, becoming more frequent, severely impact distribution routes and delivery times, causing delays, shortages of materials and price increases. In the face of these challenges, it is crucial for the industry to focus on strengthening the sustainability and resilience of its logistical operations. This not only involves collaborating with suppliers who implement responsible agricultural practices but also optimizing logistical strategies, exploring eco-friendly alternatives and ensuring traceability at every stage of the process.
At Evlox, we are committed to responsible and local sourcing, working with certified Spanish cotton from the Andalusia region. This decision allows us to prioritize sustainable sourcing, reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate the impact of external factors on our long-term production.
Carved in Blue: Has the flooding affected your operations at all?
Noemí: The recent flooding has affected our logistics and supply chain, causing delays in operations. We are working diligently to overcome these challenges and minimize the impact on our services. We kindly ask our customers for their understanding and patience as we resolve these difficulties. We deeply appreciate their support as we work to restore normalcy.
Additionally, we are fully aware of the difficulties faced by our suppliers, partners and employees in the region, and we are closely monitoring the situation to offer our support where possible
Carved in Blue: How is your company supporting the relief efforts? How can others get involved?
Noemí: Evlox employees are taking the initiative to support relief efforts. We encourage them to continue collaborating with local organizations and trust NGOs that are leading impactful initiatives. There are various ways to get involved, whether through donations, volunteering or contributing resources; every action counts and makes a significant difference.
JEANOLOGIA
Carmen Silla, marketing director
Carved in Blue: Why should the world be paying attention to this devastating event?
Carmen: This disaster highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events attributed to climate change. The consequences of the DANA [Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos, or Isolated Depression at High Levels] in Valencia not only affected the region but also disrupted supply chains and economic activities on both national and international levels. It serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address climate change and that no industry, including fashion, is exempt from its effects.
Carved in Blue: What impact do you see the flooding having on the fashion industry?
Carmen: The flooding has had a devastating impact on the region, both in terms of human loss and economic consequences. The situation in the city is truly tragic, with numerous fatalities and thousands of people displaced. Efforts to rescue the missing and clear the chaos caused by the floods—including large amounts of debris, wrecked cars and mud-covered streets—continue day and night.
Economically, it is still difficult to fully assess the damage, but estimates suggest that the total cost could reach up to 32 percent of the Valencian GDP. The latest updates indicate that the number of affected businesses has risen from 30,000 to nearly 49,000, which includes small, medium and large companies, with fashion retailers and manufacturers among the hardest hit. The disaster has severely disrupted retail operations and many fashion companies, which are now facing the destruction of their infrastructure and significant loss of sales.
The disruption of operations and the need to rebuild both physical infrastructure and logistical networks will be a long and costly process.
It is important to highlight that Valencia’s recovery will be a long-term effort. Not only will basic infrastructure such as roads and communications networks need to be rebuilt, but the region will also need to restore its business fabric, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises, which are fundamental to the local economy. Despite the challenges, the solidarity within the community has been remarkable, and there is hope for rebuilding and moving forward.
Carved in Blue: Has the flooding affected your operations at all?
Carmen: Thankfully, all our team members are safe; some have experienced material damage, but everyone is well. Our headquarters are outside the impacted zones, allowing us to continue operating as usual. Like many others, we are facing logistical challenges that delay our operations, but we are adapting and working through these disruptions.
Carved in Blue: How is your company supporting the relief efforts? How can others get involved?
Carmen: As a Valencian and Spanish company, this tragedy resonates deeply with us. We recognize that it will take significant time for Valencia to fully recover, both for its people and its businesses. Jeanologia is committed to supporting this journey with various initiatives and donations to help Valencia shine again.
We are prioritizing support for affected team members, and Jeanologists are actively volunteering in impacted areas. We also collaborate with organizations and other companies to contribute to Valencia’s reconstruction. We believe that people and planet come first, and we are dedicated to making a lasting impact alongside our community.
If interested, we’ll soon share different initiatives where others can participate in this recovery journey.
TEJIDOS ROYO
Jose Royo, president
Carved in Blue: Why should the world be paying attention to this devastating event?
Jose: This event has been devastating. We couldn’t prevent it from happening, but we could have prevented the great damage. People are not prepared for these kinds of events, even though scientists assure us they will occur more frequently due to climate change. If that is the case, education is clue. Prevention, knowledge and teaching people how to react in advance is a game-changer in these situations. We hope that at least this tragedy will help to raise awareness globally and prevent further tragedies.
Carved in Blue: What impact do you see the flooding having on the fashion industry?
Jose: I think it reinforces the idea that we need to be more sustainable and respect the environment so that it respects us. We need to continue researching and investing in sustainable technologies. At Tejidos Royo, this is one of the pillars of our philosophy and we put a lot of emphasis on product development and innovation.
Also, it’s our job to raise awareness among brands and end consumers, who are the ones who make the purchasing decision. Fast fashion will not take us down a good path. We must go for sustainable and quality products, even if they require some effort. If sustainable projects are not supported, they will not be able to evolve, and we will all lose.
Sometimes it seems that we have lost focus of the basics, of things that our grandparents understood perfectly: quality over quantity and respect/knowledge of the environment in which they lived. Balance is the key.
Carved in Blue: Has the flooding affected your operations at all?
Jose: We have been so lucky that we can’t believe it, because we are really close to the devastation area. Even though we have suffered some material damage, fortunately all our people are fine. The flooding has caused enormous structural damage, especially to the transport and road network. The access by road to our installations is complicated so our shipments may be affected for a couple of weeks. We have warned our customers and published an announcement on our website.
Also, this week a new red alert has been declared, and for two days we had mobility restriction, due to the risk of flooding and heavy rains. These situations affect us indirectly, but health and safety cannot be compromised by any means.
Carved in Blue: How is your company supporting the relief efforts? How can others get involved?
Jose: A lot of small companies that we work with are on the affected areas, now starting over and we are not leaving them behind. We will continue working with them even if it’s difficult. We need to help each other to recover quickly.
Some of our workers have organized groups to go help on the devastation zones, and our suppliers have also provided protection material to be distributed in the affected areas. The Jose & Ana Royo Foundation has contributed financially to several people affected by the flooding; we have a lot to thank them for.