In the magical world of oriental carpets, traditional Moroccan rugs have earned a well-deserved reputation, for being 100% handmade, for their quality and, of course, for their raw beauty. The medina of Fez is overflowing with these woven treasures, collected from all over the country. Here’s a quick overview to help you find your way around the choices available to both novices and connoisseurs.

The Moroccan carpet, a powerful symbol of Berber culture

©Coopérative Dar Arbalou – Ouarzazate region

Whoever said ‘Moroccan carpet’ didn’t mean anything! Walking through the door of a carpet merchant’s shop in Fez is like walking into a firework display of colours, textures and patterns, infinitely varied depending on the origin of each carpet.

The story has the flavour of an ancient tale… Hand-woven almost exclusively by women who have been passing on this know-how since the 7th or 8th century AD, Moroccan carpets are mainly Berber carpets, made in all the rural and mountainous regions of the country.

Used as floor rugs, wall hangings, blankets, dowries, bridal finery and even shrouds, their primary function is to dress and insulate homes in winter and to provide a source of income for the most modest families.

A few guidelines for choosing your Moroccan rug

When it comes to describing the carpets, from the simplest to the most complex, that emerge from the imagination of weavers, we very often find the expression ‘writing of silence’. Indeed, these woven surfaces are used by women to describe their daily lives, express their feelings and convey values.

Each motif refers to traditional symbols, the life of the tribe, nature, female intimacy, love, death, fertility, etc. Don’t hesitate to ask the merchants you meet to tell you the story behind each carpet – the most passionate among them are inexhaustible.

Carpet-making techniques vary from region to region. They can be either woven, as in the photo above, or knotted. In the first case, the carpet has a smooth surface with a tight weave, like kilims. In the second, the strands of wool are attached one by one to the warp threads, then pressed together with a comb. The greater the density of knots per cm², the greater the quality and value of the carpet.

Below is a selection of the most popular types of carpet at the moment:

Azilal (1/3)

Azilal carpets are immediately recognisable by their explosion of bright colours on a mostly white background and their unique asymmetrical patterns.

Azilal (2/3)

Made in the Middle Atlas region of Azilal and Beni Mellal, these carpets are knotted from pure short-haired wool and may contain cotton threads.

Azilal (3/3)

Their vibrant colours come from natural dyes, making them a pop decorative element that can be used on the floor or as wall hangings.

Beni Ouarain (1/3)

Beni Ouarain rugs, made in north-east Morocco, have been a star among interior designers for over a decade. They are recognisable by their sober colours (mostly creamy white and brown black), their simple geometric patterns and their softness.

Beni Ouarain (2/3)

These knotted rugs are said to be ‘high wool’, the length of the strands and the density of the knots giving them a unique thickness and comfort. An authentic Beni Ouarain rug is made 100% by hand from high-quality, undyed virgin wool.

Beni Ouarain (3/3)

Beware of industrial counterfeits! Three tips to ensure that your rug is genuine: it should not contain cotton or synthetic fibres; it should only have fringes on one side; and the knots on the reverse side should not be perfectly identical, indicating that they have been hand-knotted.

Boucherouite (1/3)

Are you a fan of upcycling? Then the Boucherouite knotted rug, made from fabric scraps and old clothes, is for you. Born in the 1950s, it was a response to a temporary shortage of quality wool.

Boucherouite (2/3)

Today, it has become a trendy and cheerful decorative item, appealing to customers looking for unique pieces in explosive colours and atypical patterns that make them genuine works of art.

Boucherouite (3/3)

Never short of creativity, Moroccan weavers multiply the textural effects, sometimes mixing wool, cotton, nylon, lurex, etc. with textile scraps.

Kilim (1/2)

The woven carpet par excellence! Made from wool, cotton or a mixture of the two, kilims are often decorated with fine, intricate geometric patterns. The most elaborate pieces can be embellished with handmade embroidery.

Kilim (2/2)

One of Morocco's specialties is the ‘sabra’ or vegetable silk kilim, which has a slightly lustrous surface and a very distinctive smooth feel. In theory, sabra is produced from aloe vera fibres. Beware of current imitations made from blends of viscose, wool and cotton.

Handira

The handira, or cape worn by Berber brides, is now very popular as a wall decoration or bedspread. This woven piece is usually cream in colour, with alternating borders of kilim and embroidery of sparkling sequins.