The timeless menswear brand La Paz, founded in Porto, Portugal in 2011 by André Bastos Teixeira and José Miguel de Abreu and known for a style inspired by the Atlantic Ocean, appears to be charting a new course, turning towards the mountains through a partnership with Burel Factory, based in the Serra da Estrela. It is well known that the former Lanifícios Império, founded in 1947 in Manteigas and equipped with heavy machinery and traditional looms to transform the wool of the region’s Bordaleira sheep into burel and other woollens, was rescued in 2010 by João Tomás and Isabel Costa, the driving forces behind the current project, which embraces fashion, interiors, design, architecture, and more. As a result of this collab, the Mantero debuts in Herringbone or Navy, already available on the La Paz website for 348 or 354 euros, depending on the specifications of each version, such as dyeing.

According to La Paz, this is “a small production made with intention,” it says in a note sent to FashionNetwork.com about the launch, highlighting the historic factory in Manteigas, Burel Factory. “The link between Mantero, La Paz and Burel Factory represents a standout collaboration in contemporary Portuguese design, uniting the textile tradition of Serra da Estrela with urban menswear.”

“The Mantero is an iconic jacket model from the Porto-based brand La Paz, produced in partnership with Burel Factory,” the brand adds, stressing that “the jacket is made from burel, the traditional wool fabric from Serra da Estrela, produced by Burel Factory on its historic looms in Manteigas. This fabric is known for its durability, water resistance, and thermal insulation,” La Paz further notes.

Regarding the concept, it also states: “La Paz, focused on reinterpreting classics of workwear and Atlantic culture, uses the savoir-faire of Burel Factory to create a garment that fuses the heritage of the Serra da Estrela shepherds with a modern, functional cut.”

“We have launched a very limited edition of Mantero jackets in new colours, made with carefully selected burel fabrics. Made with 100% Portuguese wool and produced by the Burel Factory- a traditional weaving mill founded in 1947 in Manteigas, Serra da Estrela,” the statement continues. “With several pockets, the Mantero is inspired by fishing equipment from the 1960s. A perfect piece to protect you on the first cold days of winter,” it says, remaining true to its DNA.

“At Burel, wool is still produced in the same way it has been for generations. Local Bordaleira sheep graze on the high plateaus, providing the region’s characteristic wool. The fibre is then transformed using a rare combination of modern machines and 19th-century looms, preserving ancestral techniques almost extinct elsewhere.”

The La Paz website also explains that the Mantero “is a slightly oversized jacket with several pockets, inspired by vintage fishing equipment from the 1960s,” noting the heavy 100% wool fabric, true-to-size fit, and corozo buttons. Special care: it must be washed by hand only.

Both brands share values of local production and sustainability, valuing Portugal’s industrial heritage, with Burel Factory still operating in the old Lanifícios Império factory, giving it new life after insolvency, and continuing to be the main guardian of burel in Portugal, expanding its application from fashion to architecture and interior design (acoustic panels), as noted earlier. For its part, the internationally renowned menswear brand La Paz uses local suppliers and artisans to guarantee Made in Portugal quality.