About

Berber weaving is an execution of pure

instinct narrating life stories and personal

experiences in an abstract form.

ALL MOROCCAN RUGS ARE IN FACT BERBER RUGS,AS THEY ARE ALL MADE BY DIFFERENT BERBER TRIBES IN MOROCCO. HOWEVER EACH TRIBE HAS A DISTINCT STYLE-WHICH OFTEN COMES ABOUT BECAUSE OF FACTORS SUCH AS THE LOCAL RESOURCES, NATIVE PLANTS FOR THE DYES AND THE CLIMATE OF EACH AREA.

TRADITIONALLY MOROCCAN RUGS WERE MADE SOLELY BY WOMEN FOR USE WITHIN THEIR OWN HOMES,TO ADORN THE FLOORS AND BE USED AS SEATING COVERS,BED COVERS OR BLANKETS DURING THE COLDER MONTHS.THE RUGS ARE FILLED WITH SYMBOLISM AND OFTEN TELL A STORY OF THE WOMAN WHO CREATED EACH PIECE. EACH RUG TAKES AROUND 20-30 DAYS TO BE HAND-WOVEN AND THE DESIGN IS ALWAYS COMPLETELY ORIGINAL NO TWO ARE EVER THE SAME. AS MANY BERBER WOMEN BELIEVE THE RUGS ARE IMBUED WITH A SPIRIT,EITHER FROM THE IMPRINT OF THE ARTIST OR FROM THE LIVING NATURE OF THE WOOL,THEY RESIST MONITORING THE PROGRESSION OF THEIR WORK, OFTEN ONLY REVEALING THE ENTIRE RUG WHEN FINISHED.ONCE THE DEEPLY LABORIOUS WEAVING PROCESS IS COMPLETED,THE RUGS ARE CONSIDERED PART OF THE FAMILY AND A PRIZED POSSESSION OF THE HOME.

Azilal High Atlas Azilal rugs often tell stories through their use of bold colours and patterns. Originating from the high Atlas mountains, these sought-after creations are single-knotted, and woven in wool with intricate patterns and symbolism. The base of an Azilal rug is mostly a light shade of cream or white - the natural colour of the wool used - then woven with brightly tinted wool coloured by the regional flora.

Boujad Central Plains Boujad rugs most often appear in warm red, pink and orange hues. They are created with the typical knotting techniques practiced by Berber tribes - but with the knot being pulled tighter, the rugs require less wool. This enables the weaver to create the intricate geometric patterns that Boujad rugs are famous for. The colours are created by natural dyes - from flowers, berries, leaves and henna. The Boujad area is a wider area of Morocco rather than one small tribal location.

It is a rite of passage.

In this way the Berber women carefully

preserve their heritage of technique and knowledge

passing down messages in wool from

one generation to another creating textiles

full of life and charm.

Beni Ourain Middle Atlas Contrastingly, Beni Ourain rugs are beautifully muted in their colour palette. Their shades can range from cloud white through to sandy cream, and their light tones lend themselves perfectly to spacious minimalist homes.Created by the Beni Ourain tribe in the Middle Atlas, each rug is adorned with soft black or dark brown geometric patterns and lines. The design on each rug is often asymmetrical and mismatched, adding to its charm.

Boucherouite All Tribes One of the most playful and visually captivating types of rug are Boucherouite - created originally out of a need for warmth, in areas where there is no or little access to wool.These rugs are crafted from scraps of fabric and old clothing, making them a wonderful example of practical recycling. The rag rugs are durable, with bright colours and an incredibly tactile quality due to their unique texture.