Fast-growing Spanish premium fashion brand Flabelus has gone live with Bleckmann, specialists in supply chain management for fashion and lifestyle brands, as its exclusive fulfilment partner in the UK. The brand, which manufactures the majority of its products at its factory in Elche, Spain, selected Bleckmann to help reduce lead times to its expanding UK customer base, spanning monobrand stores, retail partners and e-commerce. Bleckmann’s decades of proven expertise in omnichannel fulfilment excellence, combined with its advanced IT platform, made it a natural choice for this ambitious brand.
Authentic style, seamlessly delivered
Founded in 2020, Flabelus has built a loyal following – including a number of high-profile admirers – on the strength of its reputation for quality, craftsmanship and authentic design. That reputation has driven rapid growth over the past five years, with the brand now operating 31 owned stores across Spain, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Milan, London, Lisbon and Mexico City. In total, Flabelus’ signature espadrille designs are now available at 700 stores worldwide. As María Fernándes-Álva de Zunzunegui, Global Operations Director at Flabelus, explains: “Prioritising the customer at every stage has been central to our growth, and we hold our partners to the same exacting standard. Bleckmann has demonstrated the ideal balance of logistical expertise and commitment to service excellence.”
Delivery speed is central to this commitment. All of Flabelus’ UK omnichannel fulfilment operations will be run from one of Bleckmann’s in-country distribution centres, in Burton-on-Trent, which is situated within the UK’s ‘logistics golden triangle’. This strategic location enables faster fulfilment times to both e-commerce and retail customers. With an extensive and well-established transportation network in the country, including a dedicated pool of ‘Local Hero’ last-mile partners ensures reliable nationwide reach. This is further supported by full integration with Flabelus' e-commerce operations and inventory management systems, giving both teams real-time visibility across the entire fulfilment chain. This end-to-end omnichannel set-up gives Flabelus full oversight of the entire delivery cycle, from outbound to returns and exchanges – ensuring that all customer touchpoints can be optimised to reflect the brand’s premium positioning.
Navigating cross-border complexity
As Flabelus’ global footprint has grown, so too has the complexity of its cross-border logistics. Shipping from Spain to the UK brings a significant post-Brexit administrative workload: under current trade agreements, products originating in the EU benefit from zero-tariff treatment, but importers must provide valid proof of origin. Bleckmann’s dedicated customs teams – operating on both sides of the Channel and supported by an integrated customs framework – ensure efficient and compliant declaration filings, streamlining a complex and time-consuming process for the Flabelus team. In addition, Bleckmann’s growing presence in Spain, with established transportation networks and dedicated fulfilment hubs, ensures end-to-end supply chain oversight for all B2B and B2C orders.
Unburdening ambitious brands to focus on growth
The Flabelus launch is a strong example of Bleckmann’s approach to designing fulfilment solutions around the needs of the client – backed by decades of industry-specific experience. Every aspect of the partnership has been shaped to meet Flabelus’ operational requirements, unburdening them fully so they can accelerate their commercial ambitions. For example, warehousing space has flexibility built in, providing room to scale as Flabelus continues to grow its UK presence. As Fernando Sainz Martinez-Vara de Rey, Business Development Director at Bleckmann, said: “Fast-growing brands need a partner who can manage the full picture – from freight forwarding and customs to warehousing, last-mile delivery and returns – so they can keep their focus firmly on growth. That’s our role.”
