A Heritage United
For White Story, this collaboration began with a coincidence that felt remarkable.
Several years ago, our Creative Director, Fiona Myer, purchased a Burel bag while travelling through Europe. The piece was part of a limited collaboration between Burel and Monocle London — only fifty were produced.
Years later, in a Melbourne showroom, Fiona happened to be there at the same time as the Monocle designer behind the bag. Seeing one of the fifty was unexpected; realising its designer was there too made the moment even more special.
That conversation led to an introduction to Burel, and in time, to this collaboration.
Material with Meaning
At White Story, we are drawn to materials shaped by place, process and time. Our collaboration with Burel Factory is grounded in a shared respect for craftsmanship and thoughtful making.
Burel Factory works with burel, a traditional Portuguese wool developed in the Serra da Estrela mountains, originally worn by shepherds for protection against harsh conditions. The fabric is made from the wool of the Bordaleira sheep, valued for its strength, density and natural resilience. Produced through a careful process, burel retains the integrity of the fibre while offering durability suited to everyday use.
The wool used to create burel is sourced locally and transformed through methods that have remained largely unchanged for generations. From washing and carding to weaving and felting, each stage reflects years of experience.
The result is a fabric with depth and substance — one that wears in over time and holds its character. This approach resonates with White Story. We value materials that stand on their own, age well, and speak for themselves. Burel’s inherent strength and tactile quality made it a natural choice for a bag — an object intended for regular use rather than seasonal rotation.
The bag reflects this thinking. Designed to fully flatten, it is lightweight yet durable, making it the perfect travel companion or everyday bag. Its simplicity is intentional, allowing the fabric to take focus.
Craft as Continuity
Burel Factory’s work is guided by preservation rather than reinvention. Traditional crafting methods are maintained, long-standing machinery remains in use, and knowledge is carried forward through hands-on practice. This continuity mirrors our own approach to design — creating pieces that prioritise function and longevity.
The bags developed through this collaboration reflect that shared sensibility. Each piece is constructed with care, allowing the fabric’s natural character to remain present. Shapes are purposeful, detailing is minimal, and attention is placed on durability, use and material honesty.
A Shared Approach
Sustainability is not an added feature — it is inherent to Burel Factory’s process. Burel wool is renewable, biodegradable and produced with minimal waste. Likewise, White Story’s approach prioritises longevity over volume and quality over trend.
This collection is co-branded as a collaboration and features custom labelling developed for the partnership, along with a fabric zip puller exclusive to White Story. Across both brands, Pearl is the shared online colourway. Light Sarrubeco and Dark Clay are exclusive to White Story.
The result is a collection of bags that sit naturally within the White Story world — grounded, functional and quietly distinctive, shaped by shared values and a mutual respect for how things are made.