Discover how Feltrando combines artisanal techniques and modern design to create products that promote the history and innovation of felt.
Feltrando Portugal is a Portuguese carpet brand, lamps, bags and other accessories founded by artist and designer Filomena Almeida, which combines the art of working felt with design.
It is a personal project that incorporates Portuguese history, standing out in the market for its quality, innovation and versatility of products derived from this material, so Portuguese.
Feltrando combines artisanal techniques with modernity to create unique products, while promoting the history and innovation of Felt.
Origin and Inspiration of Feltrando
Filomena Almeida has a degree in Fine Arts and has been developing 1995 artistic projects within the scope of sculpture, with a predominant interest in stone, wood and metals. Em 2000, fulfills your growing interest in interior design, and teaches at the Pedra Professional Design School – Porto. The vast knowledge and taste for manual and industrial materials and processes, combined with travel and experience as a sculptor, make you emotionally interested in felt.
With a Portuguese brand that offers products made from felt, the question “after all, what is felt?" grow up.
1- What makes felt such a special and versatile material??
Felt was created in ancient Egypt exclusively from animal hair., the most common being sheep, camels and hares. Today it is a material produced in wool, as well as synthetic materials. It is considered a TNT (non-woven fabric), the fibers are compacted and not braided, can be sewn, glued or even cut. Due to today's manufacturing process, Felt comes in a wide variety of colors, thicknesses, textures and prints, and versatility can be used in clothing, accessories and decorative items.
Felt is still a symbol of the northern region of Portugal today., place where the best felt in the world is produced for the global hat industry. It is a material that marked an entire region culturally and economically., until today, both in the historical legacy left in local crafts, as well as the innovation of using felt for other purposes.
It is with great determination and pride that Feltrando works on all this heritage. From conception to production, works with responsible local companies and values the work of artisans, establishing production bridges that give visibility to the local economy, to craftsmanship and new technologies. The felt used is from Fepsa, world leader in the production of felt for hats and partner since the beginning of the brand.
2 – the current market and commitments
Felting began as an Occupational Atelier where socially vulnerable people have the opportunity to learn felt production techniques from an occupational perspective, but also to acquire technical skills for the job market. After exhibiting at the Hat Museum, the first “design pieces” resulting from the studio compete for the Oliva Rewind Award, with handbag – Miss Olive, inspired by the old felt strip bags typical of the region, having won in the Fashion Accessories category. After that, the Holy House of Mercy of S.J. Madeira becomes project promoter, and gains headquarters at Oliva Creative Factory.
Today, Feltrando Portugal assumes itself as a business project, framed in Creative Industries, in the Circular Economy and Upcycling that promotes Slow Living, by purchasing products that last a lifetime. It progresses on two work fronts simultaneously, one of proximity to its region and its people, with the holding of workshop cycles, promoted with the Hat Museum, and participation in Sustainable Mercadinhos and also in the scope of Design.
3 – reduction, reuse, recovery and recycling of materials
Feltrando was created with a value proposition based on the principles of Circular Economy. The use of felt, which is industrial waste from an emblematic local industry, is one of the pillars of the brand. Furthermore, the rehabilitation of people in situations of social vulnerability is promoted through the three Occupational Ateliers on the Valencia Trilho da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de S. J. Madeira.
“We work daily to make the brand increasingly efficient from the perspective of the Circular Economy, from the selection of materials to the method of shipping products to customers”
When creating collections, there is ingenuity and creativity, using wooden shapes to intertwine felt and the same tools in the production of new products. An example of this pedagogical approach is Garnalda, a piece that incorporates small pieces of felt resulting from the production. These fragments, instead of being discarded, are saved and used in workshops with children, where the importance of recycling and not wasting is conveyed.
4 – Where do Feltrando pieces fly?
The Portuguese brand takes advantage of the versatility of industrial felt to create a wide range of products in a sustainable way. Among the most popular items are coasters, placemats and rugs, that combine design and functionality. These products made in the north of the country can also be customized in the spirit of the circular economy and with a strong commitment to sustainability, like most Portuguese brands.
The parts of Felting Portugal are mainly sold in Portugal, but they also reach international stores, especially in Spain. Furthermore, the brand expands its global reach through Portuguese marketplaces with international visibility. Like this, Feltrando's creations not only fly across the national territory, but also for foreign markets, taking with them the quality and innovation of Portuguese design.
In celebration of their 10 years of existence, Filomena's work is much more than being a brand, as it promotes tradition, innovation and sustainability, having a great commitment to quality and social impact. This brand continues to conquer the Portuguese and international market by offering products that tell stories and that win with their originality..
Feltrando is simultaneously Sustainability and Innovation!
Visits to Feltrando no Map Portugal Does Portuguese Brands Good.