The Farah Trading Co Team is very excited to announce our newest producer and our first ever textile producer - Burel Factory!
Burel Factory is synonymous with the history, authenticity, heritage, quality and sustainability of the Serra da Estrela region. Portugal's artisanal wool industry was dying until Isabel Costa and João Tomás bought the shuttered Burel Factory and brought the insolvent and almost obsolete a wool factory back to life.
They kept the 19th century machines, recycled some patterns from the old books (that they still use today), and modernized the craft by adding color to the Burel wool which, until then, only existed in the original colors of wool. They elevated the product, innovated and really brought Burel to the 21st century.
When you think about Portugal, a snow filled mountain probably isn’t the first thing that comes to your mind but this mountains region is truly is an important part of our country.
Serra da Estrela is located right in the middle of Portugal, with its highest altitude point in mainland Portugal. During the winter, this is the special place where many Portuguese youth see snow for the first time, and the area that brings us the best cheeses and the plumpest cherries in the summer. It is also the go-to place for the highest quality wool textiles thanks to Burel Factory.
Here are five reasons that Burel Factory is a must visit on your next trip to Portugal:
1. The Sustainable Factor(y)
You can feel the sustainability in all areas of the business, in addition to the product itself. Isabel and João recovered a dying factory, a technique and traditional methods from becoming obsolete and unknown to future generations, creating jobs and breathing new life to an almost deserted area of the country.
Burel is a zero waste company which means no thread goes to waste and on top of it, partnerships with local shepherds make sure that all the wool comes from local sheep -- which I think is amazing in the fast moving world we live in.
2. They make everything from fashion to stunning home decor
When you visit, you'll see that they make everything from table setting accessories, to curtains, to carpets to pillows, among many other goods.
Some of their larger architectural wall coverings even adorn office buildings from Tokyo to San Francisco. Plus, if you want to indulge, you can buy several pieces of clothing and accessories.
3. You can stay at one of their two gorgeous hotels right on top of the mountains
CASA DE SÃO LOURENÇO
The only 5-star hotel in the Serra da Estrela mountain range and the only one with panoramic views over the Zêzere Glacier Valley. This hotel dates all the way back to 1940 and one of the main theme is, of course, Burel wool all around.
It has a pool, a spa, a restaurant and also an array of outdoor activities like hiking trails or beautiful lagoons. And, it is just a few minutes from the factory.
ADDRESS:
Estrada Nacional 232, Km 49,3
Campo Romão
6260-200 Manteigas
CASA DAS PENHAS DOURADAS
A hotel sitting on top of the mountain and just a stones throw from Casa de São Lorenço and the factory. The view alone is breathtaking and the interiors make for a true sight. They say it is a house on top of the mountain, and that’s how it feels like, a really luxurious warm home at 1500 meters high.
ADDRESS:
Penhas Douradas
6260-200 Manteigas
4. You can book a tour and walk through their factory
The original factory was born in 1947 as Lanifício Império. In 2010, the dynamic duo brought new life to it and recovered its original authenticity transforming it into the current Burel Factory.
Today it still uses the same machines and traditional equipment, producing unique high quality fabrics, preserving the past and making it into a story of the future.
The best part is that you can visit the inside and witness it all firsthand. You just need to book with them and schedule a date and time.
ADDRESS:
Amieiros Verdes
6260-028 Manteigas
OPENING HOURS
Monday to Friday » 10:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday » 10:00am to 1:00pm
5. You can (and you should!) visit any of their 4 stores and showrooms
If you're coming to Portugal but are not driving all the way to Serra da Estrela, you can still visit one of their stores.
Burel has four: one in Porto, two in Lisbon and one in Manteigas. The Burel Architecture Showroom in Lisbon is an authentic art piece with many textile installations within the store – it is really worth visiting and experiencing the modern possibilities of such an ancient technique.
BUREL CHIADO
ADDRESS:
Rua Serpa Pinto, 15 B
1200-443 Lisboa
OPENING HOURS
Monday to Saturday » 10:00am to 7:00pm
BUREL PORTO
ADDRESS:
Rua de Mouzinho da Silveira, 83
4050-420 Porto
OPENING HOURS
Monday to Saturday » 10:00am to 7:00pm
BUREL ARCHITECTURE | LISBON
ADDRESS:
Rua do Ferragial, 4
1200 – 183 Lisboa
OPENING HOURS
Monday to Friday » 10:00am to 7:00pm
BUREL MANTEIGAS
ADDRESS:
Amieiros Verdes
6260-028 Manteigas
OPENING HOURS
Monday to Friday » 10:00am to 7:00pm
Saturday » 10:00am to 1:00pm
