Who is Paula Neves
Paula Neves swapped the frenetic life of Lisbon for Monsaraz in a bid to live more connected to the countryside and the elderly.
The textile industry has been close to his heart from an early age, as a result of working with his grandparents and mother, professionals in the textile industry. In family conversations at the end of the day, there was always talk of looms and yarns, including linen, wool and cotton. This is reflected in her passion for handicrafts and creating objects from wool. At a young age, the pieces appeared from his hands as if by magic and, after moving to the Alentejo, it was noticeable that he developed a desire to discover ancestral techniques.
Passionate about Portuguese heritage and culture, she found another passion: sheep and their wool, as if lost in the Alentejo countryside. Together with the elderly, she began researching ancient techniques for spinning, dyeing and weaving. We are delighted to find Paula in her essence creating each piece that is unique and personalized with total respect for the ancestral and traditional way of transforming wool.
Paula and her husband, Pedro Neves, are essentially dedicated to spinning and weaving wool, with the aim of transforming things and places through their hands and looms. This project, which includes passing on knowledge to preserve art through textile workshops, advocates a simple, healthy and organic lifestyle, in full harmony with nature.
About the "Guardian of Wool" Project
The Paula Neves Project was born with the mission of valuing Portuguese wool and preserving ancestral spinning and weaving practices, many of which are almost forgotten. We try to breathe new life into them, combining innovation with absolute respect for tradition.
Each thread, each piece woven, carries a complete story – it starts with caring for our animals, goes through the dignity of those who create them and conscious manual labor, and culminates in the choice of natural and sustainable materials.
This is a project made with time, hands and soul. And that story can be lived and shared in the conversations we have with those who visit our studio in Monsaraz Castle, in the workshops and also in the retreats and experiences we offer throughout the year.
Sharing knowledge through workshops.
In addition to craft production, the project’s fundamental pillar is the sharing of ancestral spinning and weaving knowledge. Through classes, workshops and immersive experiences, participants learn directly from Paula and Pedro Neves how to explore traditional techniques that value time, art and matter.
More than teaching how to create wool pieces, they aim to cultivate a deep connection to the process, to the knowledge passed down between generations, and to respect for the rhythm of nature. The aim is to inspire and train a new generation of conscious hands, ensuring that the legacy of spinning and weaving remains alive, authentic and constantly evolving
