---
title: "Our Story — Belgian Roots, Portuguese Cork | PIERRE"
url: https://pierresport.live/our-story
description: "How two founders built PIERRE around natural materials and European workshops, from Portuguese cork to Bulgarian wool. Read the full story."
lang: en
---

Image: Group yoga practice on PIERRE cork mats (https://pierresport.live/__l5e/assets-v1/ba6183cf-3f1d-4404-b8be-1d08161d182d/2235.jpg?w=1440&q=55)

Our Story

# Made to Comfort You. Made to Last.

Founded by Pieter in Belgium in-between two covid lockdowns, he was searching for sustainable alternatives for yoga mats made in the Far East. That led him to Portugal, his second home, and the country of sun, sea, and.. cork!

Image: One of the oldest cork oak trees in Portugal (https://pierresport.live/__l5e/assets-v1/49640f42-7222-4e13-898c-d99938767f83/oldest-cork-oak-tree-portugal.jpg?w=800&q=70)

Image: Harvester stripping bark from a cork oak in Portugal (https://pierresport.live/__l5e/assets-v1/e9e3454a-4ae6-4e23-b2ab-3f5de8238a0b/cork-harvest-portugal-stripping-bark.jpg?w=800&q=70)

Chapter One

## Once There Was…

…a monk called Dom Pierre Pérignon. In the 17th century, he invented champagne and applied cork to close champagne bottles. From that moment on, cork started being purposefully cultivated, mainly in Portugal.

Fast forward 400 years, and cork is still standing. The construction and fashion industries have rediscovered its potential — and so have practitioners searching for sustainable alternatives that offer the same, or better, experience, performance and comfort. Cork fits the request beautifully.

Chapter Two

## Our Mission

Our founder, Pieter Vandewiele, wanted to contribute to this sustainable evolution. Portugal being his second home — his parents run a beautiful B&B in the Algarve (https://www.casamamamia.eu/) — he started visiting cork factories in Portugal and brainstorming during the first Belgian lockdown.

Fast forward to 2026, and we at PIERRE are honoured to support many yoga studios & hotels, yogis & yoga teachers with our comfortable & natural yoga props, customised and (hand-)crafted by small European workshops.

Image: PIERRE cork yoga mat with sustainable packaging (https://pierresport.live/__l5e/assets-v1/5f097062-1ec3-4b11-9483-42ef20f1b062/2228.png?w=800&q=70)

Image: Sewing a wool yoga mat cover in the atelier (https://pierresport.live/__l5e/assets-v1/fd3fd6f2-908d-4c74-bd3b-f2e959892f7b/atelier-sewing-wool-mat-cover.jpg?w=800&q=70)

Image: Worker stitching wool fleece for a mat cover (https://pierresport.live/__l5e/assets-v1/a94fb1f0-b33a-475a-b3eb-0c77e2746429/atelier-worker-sewing-wool-fleece.jpg?w=800&q=70)

Image: Recycled wetsuit neoprene collected in the workshop (https://pierresport.live/__l5e/assets-v1/4794e722-9415-4e2d-8103-0351b96da5d3/recycled-wetsuits-neoprene-pile-workshop.jpg?w=800&q=70)

Image: Packing a finished yoga mat in the workshop (https://pierresport.live/__l5e/assets-v1/d75b998e-102a-480c-9644-ff768fda1bc2/atelier-packing-yoga-mat-workshop.jpg?w=800&q=70)

Our Promise

Made to enjoy. Made to comfort you. Made to last.

100% made in Europe — yoga, well-being and sports creations to last a lifetime of practice.

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