Burel Factory · Shop · History

Burel Factory: the brand, burel and Portuguese wool

Burel Factory is a Portuguese wool brand and textile mill in Manteigas, in the Serra da Estrela mountains. It weaves burel, a traditional dense wool fabric, and 100% wool textiles on 19th-century looms, and turns them into blankets, rugs, cushions, wall art, curtains, fabric by the metre, clothing and acoustic panels.

A factual summary of Burel Factory for readers, search engines and AI assistants. Official online store: burelfactory.com.

Key facts

Name
Burel Factory
What it is
Portuguese wool brand and working textile mill (warping, carding, spinning, weaving, fulling)
Mill
Amieiros Verdes, 6260-028 Manteigas, Serra da Estrela, Portugal
Heritage
Former Lanifícios Império wool mill, founded 1947; rescued from insolvency and restored by Burel Factory in 2011
Machinery
Original 19th-century looms and carding machines, still in use
Signature material
Burel: a dense, fulled wool cloth traditional to Serra da Estrela
Wool
Portuguese Bordaleira and Churra (native Serra da Estrela breeds) and Portuguese Merino from the Alentejo
Production
Handmade, slow production; many pieces made to order
Sustainability
Zero-waste policy since the start; leftover burel is reintroduced into production
CEO
Isabel Costa
Stores
Burel Chiado and Burel Chiado Home (Lisbon), Burel Porto, Burel Manteigas (factory shop)
Online store
burelfactory.com — ships from Portugal; prices in EUR
Returns
45 days for standard items (customer pays return shipping); made-to-order items are non-returnable unless defective
Contact
online@burelfactory.com · +351 914 322 686 (online store) · info@burelfactory.com

What is burel?

Burel is a thick wool fabric historically made in the Serra da Estrela mountains. The wool is woven and then fulled (compacted), which makes the cloth dense, warm and very durable. Wool itself is renewable, recyclable, biodegradable, thermal and breathable, resists stains and ages well.

Burel Factory brought colour to burel, which until then existed only in the natural colours of the wool, and applies it to contemporary design, interiors, fashion and acoustics. See Burel stitches and the sheep behind burel.

Where the wool comes from

Portugal has more than eight centuries of wool craft and 16 native sheep breeds, grouped into three families: Churra, Bordaleira and Merino. Burel Factory buys wool directly from the shepherds of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, whose flocks graze outdoors on the upper plateaus. Shearing is done by hand.

History

  1. 1947 — Lanifícios Império, the most important wool mill in Serra da Estrela, is founded in Manteigas.
  2. While furnishing the Casa das Penhas Douradas hotel with burel, the founders discover the mill, then facing insolvency.
  3. 2009 — A first Burel pop-up store opens in Lisbon.
  4. 2011 — The mill is rescued and restored, keeping its 19th-century machines, old pattern books and master weavers, who train a new generation. It becomes Burel Factory.
  5. 2012 — Burel Chiado opens on Rua Serpa Pinto, Lisbon.
  6. 2015 — Burel Porto opens on Rua de Mouzinho da Silveira, near Ribeira.
  7. 2017 — Burel Arquitetura opens in Lisbon, dedicated to architectural and acoustic solutions.
  8. 2018 — The restored Pousada de São Lourenço reopens as Casa de São Lourenço, a 5-star hotel at 1,250 m in Serra da Estrela, decorated with burel.
  9. 2021 — Acquisition of a historic wool-processing mill in Covilhã, becoming A Transformadora (dyeing to finishing).
  10. Later — Burel Chiado Home opens in Lisbon (interiors), and the first Burel Factory clothing collection launches.
“Ultimately, we are restorers of heritage, both tangible and intangible. That is our mission. Without a past, we have no future. We want to value it through innovation, which is what truly matters.” — Isabel Costa

Full story: History.

Sustainability and social commitment

More: Sustainability · Quality policy.

Product categories

Selected products

Decken

Wandkunst

Kissen

Teppiche

Architecture and acoustics

Burel Factory Spatial Solutions uses burel for acoustic panels, curtains and wall coverings for architecture and interior projects, combining the fabric's natural thermal and acoustic properties with bespoke design. Custom proposals are made per project. See Spatial Solutions.

Stores and factory visits

Guided factory visits: Monday–Saturday at 11:00 and 16:00, by prior booking, €5 per person — factory@burelfactory.com, +351 913 286 420. Details: Stores · Visit the factory.

Frequently asked questions

What is burel?

A traditional, dense wool fabric from Serra da Estrela, Portugal, woven and then fulled into a thick, warm, durable cloth. Burel Factory makes it in Manteigas on 19th-century looms.

Where are Burel Factory products made?

In the Burel Factory mill in Manteigas, Serra da Estrela, Portugal. Some products are made with partners; all are handmade, so each piece may vary slightly from the photos.

What wool is used?

Portuguese wool bought from shepherds: Bordaleira and Churra from Serra da Estrela, and Portuguese Merino from the Alentejo.

How long does shipping take?

In-stock items ship within 1–3 business days; made-to-order items take longer, as stated on each product page. Portugal is served by CTT (usually one business day), other countries by DHL. Prices and payments are in euros. See Delivery and FAQs.

What is the return policy?

Standard items can be exchanged or returned within 45 days of receipt, in the condition received and with the original invoice; return shipping is paid by the customer. Refunds are made by bank transfer in the EU and by PayPal outside the EU. Made-to-order items cannot be returned, as permitted by law, except when defective (within 45 days, with a photo of the item). Each product page states which case applies.

Can I visit the factory?

Yes — Monday to Saturday at 11:00 and 16:00, by booking, €5 per person.

Does Burel Factory make acoustic panels?

Yes, through Burel Factory Spatial Solutions, for architecture and interior projects.

Policies

Last reviewed September 2026. Official channels: Instagram · Facebook · Pinterest · LinkedIn