Berber carpets are the typical souvenir from any country in North Africa and the Sahara. Hand woven on traditional wooden looms by women artisans. Features ancient symbolic motifs, mimicking traditional tattoos that adorn Berber women from Morocco's High Atlas Mountains. Hand dipped in dyes, sun bleached and air dried to achieve its unique, burnished character.
Usually, the Berber carpets come in traditional and modern designs, which are only distinguished by the knotting patterns, dyes and the textures of the fabric. Actually, the history of those carpets goes back several millennia. Back in the days, tribes created their own carpets and used them as sign for their tribe.
Most of the people that come to Morocco to find their very own Berber carpets are usually shocked about the prices of these sometimes quite little pieces. However, an original Berber carpet is made by hand and, thus, needs a little investment.
A Moroccan Heritage
It all starts with place. Every knot, stitch, and tassel of a Moroccan rug holds the stories of the village where it was made. This is how strongly Moroccans feel about their rugs: When one is old or torn, we cut it and use it for a doormat or something. We just keep recycling the piece until it’s gone.
Nearly 50 different tribes weave their own variant of Morocco’s classic keepsake, the Berber rug.
Berber Carpet: Making Process
In Morocco, wool is seen as a gift from heaven and has a sacred character. It also protects against bad influences. Its treatment is therefore done with particular care.
The preparation of wool is a long process (washing, carding and combing which serve to separate the long fibers from the short ones, spinning, to obtain strong yarns - for the weft - and soft yarns, dyeing) which is based on fine observations of the basic product and demand, especially for spinning, specific skills.
Until recently, the dyeing of raw wool was done from vegetable bases (madder for red, pomegranate bark for intense beige yellow, saffron for light yellow, indigo and dates for deep blue, henna for brown, or even eucalyptus roots, charcoal, walnut bark, mugwort, rue, fenugreek). Dyes of the same intensity can be combined at will and always give a harmonious, never flashy color composition.
The production of rugs requires obedience to rites still observed today by weavers.
Carpet making begins with weaving, carried out on simple vertical looms, easy to set up and transport, consisting of a frame of wooden beams, reed stems and ropes. The patterns are inscribed on the chain so as to constitute a model which will be reinforced or attenuated by the last stage of manufacture: the knotting. The density of the knots depends on the technical quality of the carpet, but also its aesthetic value. This density depends on the size of the carpet, but it is mainly a function of the precision sought in the reproduction of the patterns. The height of the pile also contributes decisively to the sharpness of this transposition of the pattern and makes it possible to conceive in advance the softness or the harshness of the contrasts between the colors as well as between the designs.
The patterns used in the rugs are based on the arrangement of basic geometric patterns (the line, the square, the diamond, the triangle). More than a naive art, they constitute the grammar of a graphic and symbolic language. Each motif is in fact associated with a meaning resulting from a set of beliefs found in all Amazigh art, and referring as much to protection against the evil eye (the diamonds) as to "baraka" or to fertility
Tazanakht Carpet: bright colors and expressive special formations
'Taznakht' means quiet, the city famous for its original traditional carpet, with bright colors and expressive special formations.
If the carpet from the Taznakht region made its reputation, it is thanks to its wool, its colors, but also to the number of knots with which it is worked. It has, according to connoisseurs, up to 480,000 knots per m², and can take up to nine months of work.
Renowned for its quality, thanks to its colors and the number of its knots, Taznakht's trademark, the carpet, remains a source of income for households.
These are the women who work the carpet, for the simple reason that they are more patient, more expert and more perfectionist. “It’s a job, so to speak, of the house, which takes place between walls.
The men on the outside do the rest: marketing, buying wool, and sheep and goats during slack seasons. Pastoralism is, in fact, the other source of income on which most households rely here in Taznakht.
Carpet work also has its high seasons, during the first six months of the year, corresponding to the influx of tourists, who make the city a stopover on their way to the deserts of Merzouga and M'hamid el Ghizlane.
The Taznakht region is abundant in good quality wool, and this abundance is used by women. They often work the carpet at home, on order from cooperatives or for their own account, but the result is the same: the carpet is a source of additional income that is added to other resources: trade in dates, fruits and vegetables, henna, saffron ... It is also from these natural products that the Taznakht carpet derives its colors and its notoriety.
This coloring is done on the site where the weaving wool is produced: Siroua. If the carpet of this region makes its reputation, it is thanks to this wool, its colors, but also thanks to the number of knots with which it is worked: it counts, according to the experts, up to 480,000 knots per m², and can ask for up to nine months of work.
While the knot for making a rug is not that different, the time it takes is not, and speed and hand agility are very important in this job.
The weavers never come together to work together in the same place. They work separately at home, each out of sight of the others, because the competition here is tough, each is jealous of her technique which she wants to keep secret.
Each year, it is during May and June that the Taznakhtis promote their rugs, thanks to the National Festival of Taznakht Rugs which is held in Ouarzazate, an event organized by the Ministry of Crafts and the Economy. social and solidarity and the Chamber of Crafts, in partnership with the House of the craftsman, the Community Council of Taznakht, the province of Ouarzazate ...
The wool used in the production of these rugs comes from sheep of the Aït Barka breed, raised on the high pastures of Jbel Siroua. The specific attributes of this breed as well as the vegetation of the high-altitude pastures dependent on the water from snowmelt are the guarantors of the excellence of the product: a silky and shiny wool with fine and long fibers.
The Taznakht carpet can also be considered as a specific work of the Siroua mountain: in the midst of the austere gravity of this parched mountain, the carpet brings a note of luxury and cheerfulness (photo 1, inset).
The patterns are common to the entire Amazigh world, but the dominant colors are specific to the region: if the dark red dominates the rugs of the Middle Atlas, the yellow sparkles here with all its fires (bright yellow, straw yellow, yellow saffron). This liveliness of colors, associated with the raw character of wool and the inventiveness of weavers, is the signature of Taznakht rugs. Beyond the personal messages contained in each carpet, all the pieces produced reflect all the states of the mountain and its valleys, its wheat fields, the golden head of its sunny houses (Bouaabid, 2014) . It is the result of a history, mythical and historical, of the tribe which refers to past generations, close or more distant, to their know-how as much as to their religious culture or their artistic inspiration. It appears as a particular narrative genre that actively participates in social construction in all its dimensions: cultural and ideological, economic, territorial.
From a household hand-craft to world-wide fame, Bouchaouite carpet is part of the sustainable mouvement!
Boucherouite-style rugs, the “rag rugs” of Morocco (the word comes from a Moroccan-Arabic phrase for torn, repurposed clothing)
Like the name, Boucharouite is made of discarded old clothes fabric (chraouet) into beautiful carpets. Artists weave colorful scraps of wool, nylon, and cotton clothing into extravagant, whimsical patterns. This carpet is famous in the Amazigh villages near Marrakech, Beni Mellal, and Azilal. Amazigh women weave Boucharouite carpets as furniture to their living-rooms.
Boucherouite-style rugs are the ultimate expression of this spirit of creative reuse.
Once considered fit only for local homes—a practical, affordable solution to the problem of chilly floors—the rugs are now popping up in homes and galleries (and on design blogs) around the world. For the real deal, head to the city of Beni Mellal, halfway between Marrakech and Fez.
The humble materiels, the Amazigh women hand-craft, and creativity make a rich creation of authentic and artistic carpets. Boucharouite carpets has regained a world-wide recognition due to the sustainable value it beholds.
Tourists may discover more of this craft in Boucharouite Museum in Marrakech. The museum appreciates and honores this carft by hosting various exhibitions displaying unique and different Boucharouite carpets. Entree fee is 40 Dhs.
Buying tip: Look for loops of yarn and fabric strips that are wild and appear to be sprouting (as opposed to flat, with a machine-woven feel). This is a sign of authenticity.
Sabra / Cactus Silk Rugs: Tie the room together with a low profile, high impact rug
Sabra is a fabric made of vegetable fibers, it is the reason why it is also called vegetable silk or cactus silk, when the fibers comes from Agave or Aloe vera.
Leaves of the sabra cactus plant (agave) are harvested for the filaments within, then organic botanical pigments (usually from flowers & spices) are used to dye the fabric. Once the threads have been created they are hand loomed into the silk & adorned with free-hand embroidered patterns.
The process of producing textile fibers from agaves has remained unchanged for centuries: the agave leaves are crushed and then stripped of any green residue. The fibers are then separated, washed and combed to separate the white filaments, which can then be dyed with vegetable dyes. Agave silk corresponds to the philosophy of zero waste, since it can be used as an ecological fertilizer after its use as a garment.
Sometimes Sabra is mixed to other materials: Sabra with cotton, Sabra with wool, the sabra really became popular in the Kingdom.
Woven by hand, each textile can be interpreted based on choice of symbols and composition. These may reflect a specific tribe of the Imazighen people, or draw upon the meanings that the symbols themselves connote. Often, they depict scenes familiar to the Moroccan way of life. Examples include living within a semi-rural community centered around the Kasbah, or a home scene with family members gathered around a table.
Sabra Silk is known for its luxurious quality, the strength of its fibers, and the beauty of the the fabric. It is created in the ancient Moroccan tradition, using silken thread gathered and spun from native Saharan cactus. These plant-based silks are spun, dyed and woven by hand, and then sewn into rugs and pillows.
Read also: Moroccan Sabra Cactus Silk Rugs, Carpets, Blankets and Pillows
Beni Ourain Rugs
A bit of History
Characterized by thick luxurious white wool and minimalist black lines, the story behind Beni Ourain rugs is quite interesting. These rugs were used to cover the floors of the nomadic Beni Ourain tribes living in tents in the snow-capped Atlas Mountains where winter is particularly rough. These thick pile wool rugs were typically used as floor insulation, bedding, and blankets to keep warm during harsh winters. These tribes lived in remote mountainous locations in the northern Middle Atlas region, therefore, their art was not influenced by the Arab-eastern world, which explains why their style is so particular. Now you understand why Beni Ourain rugs are so comfy and dense!
Why are they so popular?
The reason why everybody loves them so much is certainly their versatility and the fact that their minimalist design will never go out of style. They look amazing in so many décor styles, from Bohemian to minimalist, girly to masculine, classic to eclectic. Check all the different decor styles we have in this blog post!
How long does it take to make a custom Beni Ourain rug?
Depending on the size of the rug you order, it can take 6-8 weeks to complete a rug. Weaving a handmade Beni Ourain is a long process! We have several women working on the same rug at the same time, depending on their workload, the lead time may vary a little. When the rug is finished, we send you a picture so you can see the rug and make sure you love it before we ship it to you. Then, it takes about 15 days to be shipped (via standard shipping to Canada or the USA). We can also ship it faster if you’re willing to pay extra to get it in 5-7 days once it’s ready.
Buying tip: If you want to make sure your rug is the real deal, look at the reverse side of the rug. If it’s a real Beni Ourain, the knotting should be irregular. Authentic Beni Ourain rugs are pricey because they are weaved by hand and are made to last a lifetime.
Azilal Rugs
Azilal rugs are a combination of virgin sheep wool and dyed wool, they usually have a lighter background complemented with graphic abstract patterns like diamonds or squares. Pops of neon colors are weaved with synthetic wool. They are hand-woven following traditional weaving methods. The art of making rugs is passed down from mother to daughter. Makers of these Moroccan rugs usually come from the Azilal region of the High Atlas Mountains north-east of Marrakesh. Depending on how many women work on the same rug, it can take as long as one month to finish a single carpet.
They are soft and comfy. It is quite common to find a Moroccan rug that isn’t perfectly symmetrical. One side of the rug might be slightly larger, or uneven than the other side. This is the beauty of irregular handmade work and only adds charm to a handmade rug. Azilal rugs create an instant point of interest with their amazing texture and colors and make the perfect statement piece for a modern decor.
We went hunting for a carpet in Morocco and found a very unique piece of art. Usually, the Berber carpets come in traditional and modern designs, which are only distinguished by the knotting patterns, dyes and the textures of the fabric. Actually, the history of those carpets goes back several millennia. Back in the days, tribes created their own carpets and used them as sign for their tribe.
Most of the people that come to Morocco to find their very own Berber carpets are usually shocked about the prices of these sometimes quite little pieces. However, an original Berber carpet is made by hand and, thus, needs a little investment. We got our through a shop seller in the soukh of Marrakech. He told us to come to his home village somewhere in the mountains – and so we did. We actually ended up in a true carpet village where we found our carpet made by a rather old woman who has been doing this for years and years.
As a tip for carpet hunters: Don’t take the very first one, but stroll around the market of Marrakech. Sometimes it is also helpful to get along well with the vendors who might bring you to the origin of their goods – which doesn’t only call for a good story, but also for a better price.
