Close-up of a Wildling model Douro. The shoe is in the picture at about the mid-foot area.

Warm feet made in Portugal

The deep, dark red of the autumn/winter Douro model radiates so much warmth that our feet could almost feel like we're enjoying the sun on a Portuguese beach. The model is named after the Portuguese region of Alto Douro, the home of port wine. But the special connection between Douro and Portugal goes far beyond its wine-red color.

The upper has a special origin: the traditionally run weaving mill Ecolã. There the Burel fabric for Douro was made, as it was for the Chokeberry model, which has been part of the Wildling family for some time.

Traditional weaving art

Burel is a functional fabric similar to the fleece loden: durable, resistant to wind and rain. In the Ecolã weaving mill it is woven in the traditional style from the wool of Portuguese sheep.

This textile tradition is no coincidence: the traditional family-run company Ecolã is based in the Portuguese town of Manteigas, which lies at an altitude of around 2,000 meters in the Serra da Estrela mountains. Because of the long, snowy winters in the mountains, the people who live in this region have been using wool for centuries to protect themselves from the harsh conditions.

In a bright, urban-looking environment, a child jumps off the curb into a puddle. The child is wearing an ochre cardigan and the Wildling model Douro on their feet.

Douro. Image: @cindywinterfeldt

Well protected through the cold season

That's exactly what we look for in autumn/winter shoes like Douro or Chokeberry. The wool that both the upper material and the inner fabric and insole are made of, with its climate-regulating properties, ensures that our feet stay toasty warm when it gets cold outside.

Even more news in October

And there’s another model to look forward to in October. It will be called "Perto", Portuguese for "closeness".
Its story begins with Wildling founder Anna's trip to Portugal, where she sought and found ways to unite Ecolã's craft tradition and the work of the conservation organization Rewilding Portugal in a joint project with Wildling.

Close-up of two Wildling wearing child's feet from behind. The feet are standing on a base of light wooden planks. The legs in blue stockings and light blue pants are in the picture about up to the calves.

Douro. Image: @cindywinterfeldt

With short delivery routes and the direct involvement of local organizations, a shoe is created that is good for our feet and wants to make a contribution to regenerative production methods.

Cover image: Douro. Sarah Pabst | Wildling Shoes

Back to blog