The carpets are woven by the women on small traditional looms, either at home or in specialised workshops.
They are then categorised into various styles, depending on their region of origin and their designs.
Some of Morocco’s finest rugs are crafted from high-quality sheep wool in Jbel Sirwa just south of the Atlas Mountains, and dyed using natural pigments from plants like henna, pomegranate peels, or indigo.
Though industrial dyes have replaced natural ones for most weavers because they are cheaper and can be produced more quickly.
“This tradition has been handed down for centuries, from mothers to daughters,” said Safia Imnoutres, who leads a local women’s weaving cooperative.
She was one of the women showcasing their creations at a recent festival in Taznakht dedicated to safeguarding the heritage.
‘Comes from within’
Creating a single carpet can take two to four weeks depending on its size, said Benchri, speaking in Tamazight, the community’s language recognised as an official language alongside Arabic in Morocco.
