Burel Wool Jacket

A French mountain coat made from Portugese Burel wool. Made in Burgundy by Le Laboureur since the 1950s, these were traditionally used by shepherds in the mountains of Europe. The material has some degree of resistance to rain, snow and cold and the brown jacket is not dyed - the colour is entirely natural.

Burel is the generic name for a 'coarse, woollen cloth'. Our coats are made from cloth woven in the Serra da Estrela in the centre of Portugal from wool shorn from local breeds of sheep bred in the surrounding mountains. Production of this material here has a long history going back several centuries. There are now efforts to revive the weaving industry because of, not only, the product's inherent qualities but also the sustainable nature of its manufacture. According to the weaver the qualities of the fabric are: 100% wool, fire resistant, water resistant, high thermal insulation, high resistance to abrasion and it does not shed fibres.