The Origin of Moroccan Carpets

When Instagram's algorithm ( @bohemianchicinterior ) does its job well and you love Moroccan rugs, you get the slightly biased impression that they're everywhere. They supposedly come from Morocco, but your feed is flooded with so many that it seems impossible they could all originate from a few villages nestled in the remote valleys of the Atlas Mountains. So, before buying a rug, you'd like to be certain of its provenance. We've been tracking down these Berber rugs for years—many, in fact. So let's try to shed some light on the subject together.

Antique Moroccan carpets: a story of Moroccan women and marriages

As in many parts of the world, handicrafts are a matter of status and economic adaptation, often in rural areas. In Morocco, it is the women in rural communities who weave (or more precisely, knot) the carpets. Life in the countryside, in the Middle Atlas, the High Atlas, as well as on the plains and elsewhere in the world, is intimately linked to the cycle of the seasons. In winter, there is less work in the fields, and the sheep are in the barn for the winter. Although the notion of less work is, especially for us women, quite relative... But that's how it is: when the fields aren't calling them, the women and girls weave, or rather knot, carpets and make baskets. It's a way of transforming time that is never free into a valuable economic activity. It has nothing to do with ethnicity; it's economic! In this way, the young girl builds her dowry, often with the help of other women in the family. Later, she will in turn help her nieces or cousins. Wool or recycled fabric rugs remain within families; they are brought out for a few special occasions but, above all, can be resold according to life's ups and downs, whether one is nomadic or settled. This has been the case for decades, which today amount to centuries. Baudelaire, who, let's face it, is no longer young, evokes the charm and softness of Berber rugs in his poetic writings. In North Africa, as elsewhere throughout the Orient, there have always been and always will be young women and marriages. Thus, this production, even if rural exodus puts it under severe strain, is still thriving in Morocco. I know you are not naive; everything is not exactly as this idealized image suggests. The large Beni Ourain rug with its diamond pattern and fringes that you buy online from a bohemian decor website doesn't come straight from a Berber tribe. But the principle is still there, and yes, antique Moroccan rugs were handcrafted by Moroccan women. I can attest to this; I see it in every Moroccan village I visit.

New Berber rugs, the Beniouarain diamond pattern supply chain

It has become a classic in our Western interiors. Simple, soft, and thick, the large Beniouarain rug in natural wool with a diamond pattern graces (almost) every living room. And we certainly won't complain, as it adapts so well to our lifestyles, which sometimes involve sliding off the sofa to sit on the floor. As long as it's comfortable... For these new rugs, production remains manual, but it has become more organized to better meet the rapidly growing demand of the last ten years or so. The women are often organized into cooperatives. They remain in control. But, it must be said, as everywhere, those with capital have a close eye and control over the supply chain. Buying a Beniouarain rug from bohemianchicinterior (or elsewhere!) means participating in a multi-stakeholder economy. But there is always a woman behind a handcrafted loom who earns her living from it.

The carpet souk of Marrakech

How many interior designers, bloggers, unknown or influential (or both), have tried, sometimes successfully, sometimes not, to "start a rug business" after a tourist trip to Marrakech? Yes, the Marrakech souk remains a hub for handicrafts from all over Africa. There are Moroccan rugs, but also Ivorian statues, rattan furniture, wicker bags made in who-knows-where, resold in France for the same price as in the medina. Except that you pay in Euros for what was bought in Dirhams...

While importing new Benioua rugs is a matter of choosing the right wool, organization, logistics, and building trust with partner cooperatives, sourcing antique rugs is more complicated. Sometimes you have to see 1,000 to choose 100. You have to go off the beaten path and travel the countryside to find the most beautiful ones. The roads are long and winding, and sometimes you're a little scared. You have to accept that you might make a mistake, and sometimes pay a little more to get the ones you want. You have to overcome your shyness and talk, listen, smile, laugh, and not be afraid to forge real connections with those who quickly become like family.

Rabat, the administrative capital, the beautiful forgotten city

I'm going to share a secret with you, one I'm a little ashamed of. It was in Rabat, the administrative capital of Morocco, that I bought my very first kilim a decade ago, which I later sold to a friend. It all started in the medina, like any other tourist. But I quickly realized that I needed to dig deeper, explore, build connections, and forge friendships.

Beware of polyester rugs handmade in Europe!

Of course, large ecru or beige rugs with geometric patterns are a safe bet. For the past few years, every home decor magazine has featured a photo of a living room with a Beni Ourain rug in a diamond pattern. These rugs are sometimes simply Berber in style and come from Eastern Europe. Some major retailers even boast about them, claiming they're made in Europe! Unbelievable!

So, as I warned you, reading this article won't give you a list of my suppliers for vintage or contemporary rugs. But rest assured, at Bohemianchicinterior (as well as in other home decor shops), Moroccan rugs come from Morocco! The only exception we've noticed concerns the fake Beniouara rugs made of petroleum-based wool (acrylic or polypropylene), euphemistically labeled "Berber style," offered by large retailers who, in our opinion, have nothing but the audacity to copy Moroccan craftsmanship in Eastern European factories to furnish their glossy magazine showrooms. But that's another story, one I might tell you someday.

Whether you like black and white or bright colors, vintage and cozy decor or mineral and contemporary atmospheres, ethnic or Scandinavian style, large soft long-pile rectangle or easy-care boiled wool kilim, for the living room, children's room or even the kitchen or bathroom, know that our Moroccan rugs are here .

To learn more about the care of wool rugs, also read this article .