As you all must know by now (thanks to my constant posting of Les Loup perfect pictures), sister recently got hitched in Portugal.
Following the wedding in Comporta, Kathryn & Nicky went to São Lourenco do Barrocal, a family estate-turned hotel set in the ancient olive groves and vineyards of the country’s Alentejo region.
For sister and me, no vacation is complete without a little exploration & textile hunting! She discovered a factory in nearby Monsaraz that exclusively produces the region’s traditional “mantas”.
The rugs are made by hand on wooden looms in the last remaining factory of it’s kind. Each piece takes hours and personalized attention to be made and is unique; the striped patterns are all slightly different and were originally favored by the gauchos who wore the pieces.
Kathryn fell in love, and lucky for all of us, brought back some incredible pieces (in an array of sizes to suit any NYC apartment!) These beauties can be hung as wall hangings, used as rugs, or even folded at the foot of the bed as a heavy blanket:
These creations embody the traditional handiwork that we appreciate and purchasing them means sustaining the country’s weavers (a shrinking group). We love these Portuguese mantas for both their beauty and their history. Happy Shopping!