Today’s hike was through a large reserve, Serra da Estrela. The slow drizzle gave a surreal look to the landscape. The rain also compromised footing along many of the rocky paths.
After lunch we traveled down the mountain to visit the Burel company in Manteigas. What a delight!. In 2006, this company was insolvent. Their product was a beautifully loomed wool cloth in natural white through grey tones. China had been a major customer and now China had decided to produce the product domestically.
Local entrepreneurs, owners of the hotel where we stayed, stepped in. New colors, made with natural dyes, were introduced. Free lance designers were inspired to develop new products and patterns.
Japan, a country that loves quality, became a major market.
The patterns are stored in notebooks on a desk in the middle of the factory.
Older employees taught new employees how to use and maintain the Belgian equipment. Some machinery dated from 1840 (this isn’t a typo, 1840).
Their workforce of 250 has now grown to 650. An industry has been reimagined with new designs, better marketing and new colors and patterns complementing the heritage designs.