Murmali combines traditional and classic designs with natural materials and broad color palettes. The brand springs from the intention of creating high-end accessories, ethically handcrafted with cruelty-free, sustainable materials. Their most important source are the cork-tree forests of the South of Spain and Portugal, from which they take cork, the material that makes all Murmali’s handbags unique. They also incorporate linen and cotton blends as well as solid brass. Unlike aluminum, zamak or plated steel, solid brass hardware is not susceptible to corrosion via oxidation. 

 The collections are designed in London and made in a family workshop located in the district of Portalegre in Alentejo, Portugal (see cover picture). They benefit from the tremendous eye for detail of their craftsmen, Portuguese artisans renowned for the excellence of their high-end cork work.

Why We Love Cork?

Murmali’s Cork fabric is obtained from the outer bark of the cork oak, which grows predominantly in the Mediterranean Sea. Cork oak tree can live about 180 years old, meaning that each tree allows about 17 to 20 cork bark collections. After the harvesting, the tree regenerates, allowing cork to be harvested again after nine years. 

Bark harvesting has taken place for centuries in the same way, without the need for environmentally damaging mechanization. The harvesting of cork has guaranteed the survival of the oak tree forests for the past years. Cork is a natural material, 100% biodegradable and recyclable. The way cork fabric is processed allows the material to retain all the other qualities that “raw” cork is known for: water resistant, incredibly lightweight, soft to the touch, stain and abrasion resistant, hypoallergenic.

Picture above: Murmali artisans checking cork handbags collection

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