These Handcrafted Rugs Reflect Life In Southern Portugal

Facets defining the quiet thrum of life in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal—a drystone wall, tilled soil, cork bark, fields viewed from above informed this collection of rugs handcrafted of undyed natural fibers by Ferreira de Sá. Dubbed Além Tejo (a reference to land beyond the river that runs near Lisbon), the series leverages techniques from tufting and knotting to weaving. “The materials are humble, but when worked with intention, they gain structure, calm, and harmony,” Ferreira de Sá lead designer Carlota Verde says of the collection’s fibers. Soft wool, in naturally occurring whites, beiges, and soft grays, is minimally processed, renewable, and biodegradable, with jute and linen added sparingly for firmness and texture. Together, the pieces form a tapestry of regional history imbued with collective memory. ferreiradesa.com

“The choice of materials was made with a focus on sustainability: fibers found in nature, in the region itself.”