Sustainable fashion for the winter months
February 5, 2020 - Learning about indigenous cultures and showcasing traditions from a respectful and celebratory point of view is vital to understanding each other and the world around us. At Six Senses Douro Valley in Portugal, we do it with a smile.
We believe that giving cultures and traditions a positive platform improves curiosity and comprehension. Six Senses Douro Valley pays tribute to a number of stories from Portuguese history, starting with a “Fun & Quirky” yet highly practical traditional costume. As a vintage raincoat it is warm, organic, sustainable, fun and totally unlike any fast-fashion item you’ll find on the high street or online. Come and try it on for size!
Stone age style
Originally from the North of Portugal, the Croça has survived to this day, as it is easy and quick to produce. It is a cape and an overcoat made from reed, using techniques that are the same as the ones for basket weaving. People from the mountains also wear leggings, made of the same material, to protect the legs and feet from the rain and snow. According to several historians, it is the oldest piece of clothing in Portugal.
Its genesis goes back to the Neolithic period, when man used natural fibers not just to insulate their homes but as protective clothing. It was used by both men and women and became, over time, an indispensable item for the shepherd who spent long periods tending their livestock in the mountains.
Reed for all seasons
The reed is a spontaneously growing plant that thrives on muddy terrains and is ready to be picked in the early summer. After being picked, it is beaten with a wooden stick and placed in the sun to dry. The process usually takes about fifteen days. The reed must be soaked in water 24 hours before the weaver starts producing the croça so that it gains resistance and is easier to be handled by the artisan. Weaving the croça was normally carried out in the winter in the evenings and took a day and a half on average to finish.
Celebrating local culture
Six Senses Douro Valley celebrates all of the arts and crafts, gastronomic delights and wine harvests this beautiful region is known and loved for.
For example, you can learn and practice traditional tile painting during one of our creative workshops and take home your masterpiece as a souvenir. If food is your thing, join a cooking class and access the vast knowledge of our kitchen team. Your gastronomic adventure will take you through regional cuisine and teach you the essentials of sustainable food preservation in our food workshop. Take a step back in time and learn how to preserve food the old-fashioned way through pickling, salting, dehydrating and smoking among others.
We also have a trained sommelier on hand with extensive knowledge about all the wines, wineries and grape varieties in the Douro Valley. Choose the day, time and winery and we will do the booking. If you’re with us on some weekends in September and October, you’re in for a treat as local villages re-enact traditional wine harvest festivals. There are six historical wine villages accessible from Six Senses Douro Valley, each known for their cultural richness and picturesque landscapes. Thanks to the wine-growing village project, much of the architectural and cultural heritage has been restored. Various traditions, linked to local crafts and food, have been preserved, recovered or even rescued from oblivion. Try the Favaios Moscatel wine and the local bread, just a small taste of the rich gastronomy these villages have to offer. While you’re there, discover the Monastery of Salzedas, one of the most important in Portugal.
The beautiful Douro Valley is not just for looking at. Get outside and get to know the best kept secrets of a region that was classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2001.
For more information, please contact the reservations department at reservations-dourovalley@sixsenses.com or call +351 254 660 600.