Tying Together Tradition: Preserving Moroccan Rug Culture in a Modern World (Video)
The history of Moroccan rugs dates back centuries and is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of the various indigenous tribes in Morocco. These rugs, also known as Berber rugs, are unique due to their distinct patterns, designs, and weaving techniques that reflect the heritage of the tribes they originate from.
Moroccan rugs are world-renowned for their quality and craftsmanship. Each rug takes a tremendous amount of effort to create. First they actually have to source the wool from mountain sheep before cleaning it and spinning it. Then the wool is colored with natural dyes before the women tie every knot by hand, working from imagination to create amazing patterns. However, despite the high price tags of authentic Moroccan rugs, the women who make them often receive the least profit. Middlemen take the bulk of the profits, while knockoffs made outside of Morocco compete with authentic rugs.
To fight for fair wages, dozens of cooperatives have formed, with around 50 in the region working together to help each other weave and sell rugs directly. However, the challenges are many, including limited access to transportation, lack of market access, and competition from imitations. Nonetheless, preserving the tradition of rug-making is important to the artisans.
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Top image: Moroccan rugs. Source: Goodpics / Adobe Stock.
