Marie Claire and Vilafranca have always moved forward together. For more than a century, the town of Els, with a population just over 2,200, has shared a deep bond with a company that once employed a thousand people during peak years. It stood as a world leader in underwear manufacturing and popularized the idea of one pantyhose for every woman. Now the company has announced that it may shut down on June 20 if it cannot refinance its debt and attract new investors, a message that sent shockwaves through the region. Yet residents and staff offered calm amid the turmoil, expressing that the decision did not come as a surprise. Some noted, with a resignation born of long observation, that the handwriting had been visible for some time.
The B2TEX group, which has owned Marie Claire for two years, told workers’ representatives on Tuesday of its intent to wind down operations, file for bankruptcy, and complete formal proceedings by the end of June. An employment regulation file (ERE) would affect the entire workforce: 280 professionals, including 214 at the Vilafranca plant. The company conveyed that it would fight to the last moment to avoid closure, yet acknowledged that the situation remains unsustainable. The union delegates warned that the odds of a rescue plan succeeding are slim, likening the chances to winning the lottery rather than saving Marie Claire. They fear the closure could act as a time bomb for the region, with three weeks left to see if a different course could emerge.
Inside the factory, where many workers have been in ERTE for six months and only about 90 remain in Vilafranca, pessimism and intimidation dominate the mood. On the street, it is widely assumed that Marie Claire will vanish. Residents express exhaustion and anger, noting that the town would lose its economic engine and population decline could accelerate if jobs disappear. Several locals were stunned by how the news played out in the media. Some compared the town’s media presence to a TV set, with cameras everywhere, a remark reflecting the surreal spectacle of the moment.
José Ramón Ibáñez believes the end of the historic banner had been expected for a long time. He says, what happened is sad, but the outcome is clear. Since the decision rests in the hands of others, there is little that local residents can do to alter it. Patricia Pons, a Villafranquina resident, frames the closure as devastating for the municipality, warning that the consequences for people and nearby towns could be severe. She questions what more could have been done to save the company.
Without industry, the city dies.
Juanjo Gil, Enrique Mestre, and José Miguel Monfort assess the likely impact of Marie Claire’s closure on Vilafranca. They note that while the company faced difficulties, they hoped for official aid to stabilize the situation. They also recognize that the textile sector is suffering broadly and contend that competing with major producers elsewhere is increasingly challenging. The trio contends that the disappearance of textile work would affect many nearby towns, including Iglesuela del Cid and Mosqueruela in the Teruel province, and warns that there may be little to anchor the community if manufacturing disappears.
Marie Claire sees continuity as feasible, but has fewer than 50 employees
In Vilafranca, the ties run deep. Those not directly employed by Marie Claire often have relatives connected to the factory, with retirees like Vicente García, José Vicente Tena, and Carlos Monfort among the ex-workers group. They reflect on the factory’s long history and acknowledge the region’s progress thanks to the plant, recalling the years when the brand drew workers from across the region by bus every day. The sentiment is bittersweet, holding onto memories of a time when the brand’s reach was global.
SOS from the municipality
Even amid sorrow, some voices call for action rather than resignation. Neighbors argue that the company and local administration should explore every option to keep the plant running. They point to the physical assets present at the site, including machinery that could be repurposed for other ventures as a potential lifeline. The practical question remains whether an alternative plan could preserve jobs and infrastructure rather than letting the facility stand idle.
Farewell to Marie Claire: the hosiery factory born 116 years ago in the interior of Castellón
Silvia Colom, the socialist mayor of Vilafranca, emphasizes a collaborative approach that brings together company leadership and public authorities to seek a financial solution that preserves as many jobs as possible. She announced an extraordinary general emergency meeting to discuss a corporate declaration regarding Marie Claire and underscored the need to pursue strategies that reinvigorate the local industry and attract an investor willing to support a relaunch of the Marie Claire brand.