WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied
After a recent trip to Guimarães Home Fashion Week, it’s clear that Portugal’s top textile brands have committed to weaving a sustainable future.
Portugal is renowned for having one of the strongest textile industries in Europe, and with good reason – it has an unparalleled ability to seamlessly blend traditional techniques with innovative design. The exquisite craftsmanship was evident at Guimarães Home Fashion Week, held in the picturesque town just northeast of Porto, which showcased the latest collections and eco-conscious innovations by local brands. Housed at the Pousada Mosteiro de Guimarães – a 12th-century former monastery that’s now a luxury hotel – the trade fair aimed to highlight the “Made in Portugal Naturally” brand, and promote the textile industry’s focus on sustainability. From fascinating natural fibres to reclaimed materials and natural dyes, here are some of our favourites.
Vianatece
Based in the charming northern seaside town of Viana do Castelo, Vianatece is a family-run company that has been upcycling leftover fabric waste for more than 35 years.
The company is fully committed to preserving authentic Portuguese weaving techniques, ensuring that each product is the result of true craftsmanship. Upcycled cotton, linen and other textile fibres acquired from local textile factories are hand-woven into artisanal rugs, cushions and throws using traditional wooden looms. vianatece.pt
Sorema
The Terra range by Sorema is dyed using natural pigments, which have been extracted from soil and rock and transformed into a chemical-free coloured powder used in the dying process. These 100%-cotton towels come in four soft, earthen hues. sorema.pt
Neiper Home
A brand that combines tradition with eco-forward technologies, Neiper Home has been producing high-quality terry towels for over 50 years.
Its latest collection, 4 Elementi, is inspired by Aristotle’s theory of four natural elements, and is made from sustainable fibres such as nettle, algae-based SeacellTM, and Seaqual® – a material derived from plastic ocean waste. The brand’s Go Green range uses Ecotec, made from pre- and post-consumer upcycled cotton. neiper.pt
Allcost
Repurposed materials and mineral pigments come together to form the organically rich pieces in Allcost’s Mineral Collection. Limonite, hematite and glauconite form the backbone of the nature-derived pastel palette. allcost.pt
Têxteis Penedo
To reduce its impact on the environment, Têxteis Penedo created LAUV, a 100%- biodegradable fabric made from banana and pineapple fibres.
This isn’t the first time the company has developed an innovative, sustainable fabric – in 2012, Têxteis Penedo partnered with SEDACOR to create Cork-a-Tex, a ground- breaking cork-based yarn, which has won numerous international awards. tpenedo.pt | cork-a-tex.com
Docofil
Since 1978, Docofil has been incorporating sustainable practices to craft timeless Portuguese textiles. The brand’s new Lemonade range, inspired by the concept of “slow living”, features organic fibres in a range that includes bed linen, towels and kitchen textiles; while the ecofriendly RE:YARN collection is made from fabric scraps and excess yarn that have been re-fibred and spun into new yarn. docofil.com
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