At the agricultural fair Ovibeja, which concludes today in Beja, visitors can find unique items such as the sheep wool duvets and pet beds presented by the Portuguese brand, Lãmb. “It’s the only sheep wool duvet in existence. Everything is made in Portugal, nothing is imported, and we are starting to export,” remarked Ricardo Machado, a partner of the company marketing these duvets under the Lãmb brand, in a statement.
The brand emerged from a partnership between Herdade de Vale Feitoso in Idanha-a-Nova, Castelo Branco, owned by Machado, and Pasto Alentejano from Sousel, a company that sells lambs. “Shearing a sheep costs quite a lot and had no return previously because wool wasn’t valued,” Machado noted, but the scenario is changing with new solutions for this natural product.
The lambs are sheared in Sousel, the wool is then washed in Guarda, and taken to the textile industry in the north of Portugal to be spun and made into duvets. “This is a truly Portuguese product,” emphasized Machado, who owns approximately 2,500 sheep. He added that this product is 100% sheep wool, in contrast to other market duvets which are made from synthetic fibers.
Following the launch at the end of 2024, the first batch of duvets sold out almost entirely within a month. “This year, we will have enough wool to produce many duvets,” Machado said, noting that approximately 80 tons are anticipated for use. Lãmb is preparing to expand into international markets such as England and France.
Wool blankets have fallen out of use, according to Machado, but the new product “offers the same quality and surpasses even down duvets.” He believes it can become a generational product, much like in the past. Collaborating with partners like universities, Lãmb is also testing new wool-based products in clothing, construction, and art, set to be released by year-end. “This is just the beginning of what we believe to be an integrated solution that will undoubtedly help rural development,” Machado concluded.
Simultaneously, the Association of Southern Farmers (ACOS) in Beja, the organizers of Ovibeja, teamed up with artisan, researcher, and entrepreneur Rosa Pomar. Pomar has introduced pieces made from wool of the native Campaniça sheep breed. “Having Rosa Pomar working with us has been a breath of fresh air for Campaniça breeders because, despite the tough market, she is committed to valuing the wool, and ensuring that this value benefits the producer,” commented Miguel Madeira, Vice-President of ACOS and a breeder of this ovine variety.
Rosa Pomar has developed products like yarn skeins and textiles, with items on display and for sale at Ovibeja, including felted wool products like thermal wine bottle sleeves and pencil cases bearing the fair’s brand alongside the artisan’s own.
Her work has enabled the selling of nearly all the 20,000 kilograms of wool produced by the roughly 10,000 Campaniça sheep. “Her efforts have provided a crucial outlet for the breed,” Miguel Madeira observed.
