Laborious Elegance
Nov 21, 2020
“Workwear,” inspired by work clothes, has over the years become a subculture in its own right and an endless source of inspiration. Beyond the nostalgia for times when manual labor was still noble, it is the intelligence of designs born from experience and the durability of fabrics that appeal to those who favor more responsible consumption.
It is in respect of this tradition that we designed the jacket "La Manard" and the vest Le Compagnon; two items that revisit workwear standards used notably in the first half of the 20th century by artisans and other compagnons du devoir.
And to go even further in this tribute, we used a high-end fabric, produced artisanally, and also traditionally used for making workwear; Burel wool, thick, waterproof, and resistant.
A few words about the origin of "Burel Wool"
This noble fabric from Portugal is made from pure virgin wool from the Serra da Estrela sheep, durable and very strong. It was traditionally used to make warm, waterproof capes for shepherds who roamed the mountains of central and northern Portugal.
The extraordinary qualities of Burel come from a unique artisanal manufacturing process: once washed and treated, the wool is set on the loom to be warped (prepared). After weaving, the wool is placed on a fulling mill (pisão), a machine that beats and scalds the wool to make the fabric more compact and resistant.
The fabric is heavy, thick, therefore warm, windproof, and ultra durable. At first a bit stiff, the fabric will soften with use, developing a patina that makes it even more authentic and comfortable;
See our full range of Burel wool items on our website