Fès may be a mecca for traditional Moroccan craftsmanship, but contemporary Moroccan designers are not to be outdone, and a number of boutiques have some great surprises in store if you’re looking for gifts and souvenirs to pack in your luggage. Here’s a look at three concept stores that we particularly like for their unusual offerings and their selection of high-quality products.
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.
Wondering what to bring back from Morocco and dreaming of a typical souvenir from Fez? Then pottery is your top one. From miniature bowls to king-size Moorish jars, the many shops in the medina are brimming with little masterpieces of Fès craftsmanship. Floral or geometric patterns, arabesques or calligraphy, traditional or contemporary style, warm colours or sober black and white, the choice will turn your head.
Its ancient medina is the largest in the Arab world, and you’re probably wondering what to visit in Fez. Starting off at Place Seffarine will take you straight to the heart of the Moroccan craft world, for which the city is still famous, and especially the copper and pewter work carried out by master coppersmiths.
For centuries, zellige has graced the monumental doors of medinas, the walls and floors of palaces and mosques, and the linings of hammams, fountains and ornamental basins. Their geometric patterns and color combinations are fascinatingly complex and beautiful. Enter the world of zelliges, the glazed mosaics that are a living treasure trove of Moroccan craftsmanship.
It is on every Moroccan family’s table, served with elegance in palaces and simplicity in popular cafés, many shopkeepers will spontaneously offer it to you… the glass of mint tea is a must for your stay in Morocco, symbolizing the country’s art de vivre and the hospitality of its people.
