Collaboration is our blood, so it is wonderful to find beautiful brands and projects with similar mindsets who we can work with on limited or long-term collections.
This time we got approached by Rosa Pomar, a Portuguese female entrepreneur who, after following and wearing our brand for some time, realized her wool felt, created from deadstocks of her 100% native Portuguese wool, could be great on a shoe.
After some time of testing and prototyping, we are finally able to present our collaboration for Fall/Winter 2025, and now we have the pleasure of introducing you to Rosa and her project, in her own words.
Can you briefly tell us the story of the Rosa Pomar project and what inspires it?
Our project has been dedicated for over 15 years to valuing wool from native breeds, as well as to promoting Portuguese wool to a wide audience, both in Portugal and around the world. We work with a logic of total traceability, alongside breeders, shepherds, and artisans, as well as the wool industry, in an effort to safeguard and promote a heritage that is both natural and cultural.
Our knitting yarns are entirely made in Portugal, in close personal collaboration with everyone involved in the process — from before the moment of shearing to the creation of the skeins. More recently, we have also started designing and producing some ready-to-wear knit pieces, also manufactured in Portugal and with our own yarns, thus following the whole path from raw material to finished product.
How did the idea of making this material come about? How was the idea of creating this new felted wool material born?
The idea of creating our own felt came from our wish to make use of raw material that we’re not able to use for the production of our knitting yarns — namely some lots of wool that result from the selection of our raw materials, as well as wools that are naturally discarded during the preparation and spinning process.
These wools are often treated as waste in the textile industry, but they remain an excellent fibre with exceptional properties, perfectly suitable for other applications. Felt is a material through which we can recycle these “waste” fibres, allowing us to expand our range of products made from 100% Portuguese wool beyond yarn and knitwear.
How is the felt made? What is its origin and the materials?
Felt is a wool textile with a millenary tradition, created without spinning or weaving (which is why it’s classified as a “non-woven fabric”). In our country, the felt technique is currently mostly associated with the hat-making industry, but its presence in Portuguese territory has been documented since the Middle Ages.
In other parts of the world, particularly in Central Asia, the artisanal technique of felt-making has survived to this day, used to create carpets, yurts and clothing. Felt is a material that allows us to take advantage of all the qualities of wool that we appreciate in fabrics and knits, with the added benefit of consistency and strength, further widening the range of products in which wool can be used.
Why did you think your material would work well for a collab with Mukishoes, or what made you feel this material fit well with Mukishoes’ philosophy and design?
Felt is a natural, resistant and biodegradable material that can be used to create a variety of useful everyday objects. It’s made from 100% wool, a natural fibre with excellent insulating properties, temperature regulation, and resistance to moisture and odours — making it ideal for keeping our feet warm and comfortable.
When we thought about possible applications for the felt, it made perfect sense to collaborate with Mukishoes — of which I was already a satisfied customer — on a footwear project that would combine a national and sustainable material with Mukishoes’ modern and functional approach.
Is this just the beginning — can we expect more projects together? Or are there more things happening?
Our goal is that this collaboration helps promote the quality of our wools and Portuguese craftsmanship. It was a pleasure working with Mukishoes, and we hope to have the opportunity to collaborate again in the future.
If you can’t wait for November 28 or can’t attend the event, you can purchase Soca Lana worldwide here.
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