Czech clothing brands rebuild after Zlín warehouse fire

The owners of Czech clothing and footwear brands Alpine Pro, Vasky and Botas have resumed sales from new warehouses following a devastating fire at a warehouse in Zlín this July. The blaze destroyed half a billion crowns' worth of Alpine Pro stock, while Vasky and Botas lost 180 million crowns' worth of products between them.

Alpine Pro owner Václav Hrbek told the news outlet Novinky that the company has opened a new central warehouse in Chomutov and is gradually getting it up to speed. He said autumn-winter collections, some of which were affected by the Zlín fire, are already reaching the brand's stores. Alpine Pro's online shop resumed operating back in August, and demand for its products is now on par with last year's figures.

Václav Staněk, founder and owner of footwear brand Vasky, said replenishing the lost stock will take the company's shoemakers at least six months of intensive work, and possibly longer. The brand has found temporary warehouse space near Zlín, in Otrokovice.

Meanwhile, the demolition company dismantling the burned-out building in the former Baťa industrial complex plans to preserve its eleven-storey north-eastern section. The main demolition work, which began on 7 August, has already been completed.