Hand-woven in the Atlas Mountains.

1

A shepherd tends to a flock of sheep in the Atlas Mountains. In summer, the herd is shorn of its winter wool. It can take between 50 and 100 layers to make a standard size rug.

berberian rugs

2

The wool is bundled and carried to the River Mountain, where it is rinsed and beat against the rocks to cleanse it of a year’s worth of wear.

 

The wool dries in the summer sun

beni rug

3

Women spin the wool into long strings of yarn using just their hands, shins and wooden pegs.

berberian rugs

4

Now the yarn is either left as natural or dyed with natural pigments and then sent back to the weaving shop.

The new thread is threaded on looms.

5

Women begin the long process of weaving a design. Each woman (sometimes working with a partner) works on a rug from start to finish. It may take over a month to tie the knots.

authentic moroccan rug authentic moroccan rugs beni ourain style rug
authentic moroccan rug authentic moroccan rugs beni ourain style rug

6

The finished rugs are then sprayed with water, cleaned and draped over wooden supports where they will air dry from the mountains.

Browse Collection

7

All rugs are cleaned professionally dry and carefully hand-checked prior to dispatch before they are shipped off to their new owners