MUNICH and Gisela join the Palafolls social outlet
With this addition, the social outlet now has nine establishments in Palafolls with a social focus, where 80% of the staff are people with severe mental illness and consumers can find outlet clothing, not second-hand.
MUNICH was the first to arrive at the Palafolls social outlet in the spring, becoming the Catalan shoe brand's first social outlet. As soon as they learned about the El Molí d'en Puigvert Foundation's project, the company decided to open a store there to sell off footwear, accessories, and sporting goods from the previous season, but also, and above all, to channel its social and charitable commitment through a solid and well-established project focused on the employment of people with severe mental illness. In this case, the store employs four people from the Special Employment Center (CET), and the two store managers are the supervisors of the assistants employed within the CET. In October, the lingerie, corsetry, and pajama brand Gisela arrived at the Palafolls social outlet. This establishment is the first outlet for the Malaga-based company in its fifty-year history and employs three people and two CET supervisors, who also serve as store managers. In that other store, customers will also find swimwear during the summer.
With the addition of both stores, the social outlet covers another segment to meet the demands of its customers.
The brands, the main stakeholders
One of the common denominators of both openings, according to the El Molí d'en Puigvert Foundation, is that the brands themselves have shown interest in the project. "Until now, the foundation contacted brands to propose having an outlet, but since last year, the brands have been asking us, which demonstrates that these two decades of work are yielding not only quantitative but also qualitative results," they explain. They continue, "The fashion and business sectors, in general, seem increasingly aware of the positive power of synergy between the third sector and the private sector."
This alliance also incorporates a sustainability component, given that brands are increasingly opting to extend the life of unsold items by reintroducing them to the market instead of destroying them. The foundation emphasizes that sustainability "also means working to ensure that no sector of society is deprived of one of the most fundamental human rights: the right to work, which facilitates a life project."
A unique social innovation model
Twenty-three years after its inception, the El Molí d'en Puigvert Foundation remains the only foundation that structures its Special Employment Center (CET) around nine outlet clothing, footwear, and accessories stores in the town of Palafolls. In 2026, the foundation will renovate and expand its Bershka store. This is, however, the foundation's main line of business, which also includes a comprehensive services department (construction, gardening, maintenance, etc.) for individuals, municipalities, and companies. Together with its retail, textile, and administrative staff, the El Molí d'en Puigvert Foundation employs nearly 250 people.