Burel Factory

The factory discovered us, and we discovered burel, which we then sought to develop and which would later be used in the hotel's decoration. It was then that we realized the factory was in the process of insolvency, unable to adapt to the demands of the times. Bearing a textile heritage that transcends us, we could not let it disappear, neither its people nor its knowledge.

Mountain artisans

We decided to move forward with the factory's restoration and purchase to continue its history and showcase its art. Today, it's the Burel Factory in Manteigas. We kept the 19th-century machines, recycled some patterns from old drawing books that we still use in some blankets today, and began adding color to the burel, which until then had only existed in the original wool colors.

We put the old loom masters to work teaching the younger ones, to increase the passing of the torch and ensure this art doesn't die out. We put forward proposals, wove ideas, and pioneered designs on the old looms. And we arrived at pieces whose design, finish, and unique details become the embodiment and testament to the priceless heritage that only slow production can guarantee.

We opened the hotel overlooking the mountain panorama, a clear tribute to the Serra's greatest heritage: its landscape. We combined historical elements we found there with contemporary pieces by Portuguese artists and designers. We used burel in its interiors as a key element in design and art, elevating, disseminating, and enhancing its value, while leveraging its thermal and acoustic properties, promoting sustainability through things as simple as giving new life to a centuries-old product. Today, it is the Casa de São Lourenço, a 5-star hotel at an altitude of 1,250 meters.

In 2021, we were surprised by the news that one of Covilhã's most iconic wool processing factories was also facing insolvency. We decided to intervene and proceeded with its acquisition, ensuring the continuity of one of the city's main industries while also allowing us to halt the entire wool processing process, from dyeing to finishing—processes crucial to making burel truly burel. A Transformadora was born.

Today we are a brand that represents a lifestyle linked to the mountains, but with our eyes on the world to innovate through design,
the science behind wool, sustainability, the history of a people and the simplicity that nature teaches us.

We promote and elevate the culture of an inland region, generating employment and attracting qualified labor to the region,
encouraging its economic and social development. We promote Portugal.

We innovate in the use of a historic fabric to transform it into a scientifically certified solution in the field of acoustics, without detracting from the merit and beauty of its application in fashion and decoration.

We elevate wool to art, burel to culture, and Serra da Estrela to a destination. We adhere to a strict zero-waste policy before that concept even became a concept, combined with good environmental practices, while respecting the mountain that gave us our origins and knowledge.

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