Moroccan craftsmanship in the United States has a long history and a rich tradition. For centuries, Moroccan handicrafts have been exported worldwide. In the United States, their popularity grew in the 1960s due to the influence of American artists and designers
The history of Moroccan craftsmanship in the United States dates back several decades. As early as the 1960s, American hippies, in their exploration of the world, discovered the cultural riches of Morocco. American artists and designers also began to take an interest in Moroccan handicrafts. From their designs to their uses, everything was analyzed to understand but also export these rare quality products.
One of the first to discover Moroccan craftsmanship was the famous fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, who began collecting Moroccan rugs in the 1960s. This passion inspired him to create a fashion collection titled "The Tapestries of Marrakech", which became a huge success in 1965.
Today, Moroccan craftsmanship is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, and this success can be explained by the high-quality products that we will present in the following section.
As we have seen, Moroccan craftsmanship is very diverse, but some of them are particularly popular in the United States. Here is an introduction to the 3 most popular products.
Made from sheep's wool, which is dyed with natural colors such as saffron, indigo, and henna. The rugs are woven with symbolic messages that have a special meaning for the Berber women who make them.
Considered a work of art, the Berber rug is adorned with geometric patterns and vibrant, contrasting colors. Its success is due to its ability to add a touch of style and comfort to any room. In addition to being used as a floor rug, Berber rugs are often hung on walls as a decorative piece.
Berber rugs arrived in the United States in the 1960s and immediately gained great popularity among interior designers and decor enthusiasts.
Moroccan embroidery, known as "Tarz," is an ancient art in Morocco that has been passed down from generation to generation for several centuries. Moroccan embroidered fabrics are known for their unique patterns and vibrant colors.
These fabrics are handmade by skilled artisans who use traditional embroidery techniques and are adorned with floral motifs. Additionally, there are several embroidery techniques in Morocco that differ depending on the city and the material used.
These products were introduced to the United States in the 1990s and quickly gained popularity among fashion designers and interior decorators. They are typically used to make clothing, handbags, cushions, and curtains.
This ancestral art has been rooted for centuries, it was the Moors who installed the first kilns in Fez, Meknes, Safi, and Marrakech more than 1000 years ago. Moroccan potters use ancestral techniques to create unique and beautiful pieces, it is more than a tradition, it is a real way of life. Moroccan pottery is often decorated with complex patterns and vibrant colors.
Moroccan pottery is handmade from clay. Once the pottery is shaped, it is air-dried and then fired in a traditional high-temperature kiln. After firing, the pottery is often decorated with traditional patterns or bright colors. Additionally, these patterns can vary depending on the city.
Moroccan pottery was introduced to the United States in the 1920s and since then, it has become an important element of interior decoration.
Moroccan handicraft is widely represented in the United States, thanks to its growing popularity. Major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami have entire neighborhoods dedicated to the sale of Moroccan handicrafts. Tourists and locals can find shops selling Berber rugs, metal lanterns, embroidered cushions, babouches, and many other Moroccan handicraft products.
In addition, there are many trade shows that provide excellent opportunities for Moroccan artisans to showcase their work and interact with American buyers. One of the most important trade shows is the ICFF in New York.
MY MOROCCAN RUG at ICFF :
We are pleased to announce our presence at the ICFF, which will be held in New York from May 21st to 23rd, 2023. We would be very happy to present our works of art to you during this fair, do not hesitate to come and see us at the ICFF fair.
This trade show brings together international specialists in interior decoration and furniture. Its objective is twofold :
- To allow designers and artisans to meet the New York clientele
- To discuss with other professionals in the industry.
By emphasizing exploration and innovation, the ICFF trade show allows Moroccan craftsmanship to prove itself as a leader in interior decoration.
]]>
The designs that we create in our workshops are pure geometric layouts with perfect angles. The carpet that is produced in Morocco and that we deliver to our customers is in all points similar to the design we have planned except that it will have the sublime details of the irregularities and the uniqueness of handmade weaving, human beings who have worked with passion to tie each thread.
It is not a simple carpet that we create for you, but stories that allow us to weave links between cultures and civilizations.
Welcome into these stories and let us create the carpet that will change your interior!
]]>It is an honour and a real pleasure to work with Atlas Kinder ! We have met them recently and have been humbled and delighted to see how beautiful a human soul could be.
Hansjörg Huber the founder of @atlas_kinder promised himself that he would use his money to build homes for orphans and chose Morocco for this dream project.
We are happy to donate 1% of our sales to the Atlas Kinder association each year to build a village with houses and schools to welcome orphans (more than 20,000 each year in Morocco).
]]>
In Morocco, there are several qualities of sheep's wool but also different wool weaving techniques.
Two Berber tribes are recognized in Morocco for their weaving of sheep's wool to make the famous Berber rugs.
Beni Ouahrain:
The women of the Beni Ouahrain tribe use classic pure wool, which is typical of traditional Berber carpets.
The appearance of the wool is more relaxed, and the weaving method offers more flexibility to the textile (carpet or other).
Beni Mrirt:
The Beni Mrirt tribe, on the other hand, mainly works with wool shorn from living sheep (Sof al Hiya, in Arabic).
The wool is denser, the weaving is tighter and more regular, and the rugs are noticeably softer.
The rugs made by the Beni Mrirt tribe are called "Kings of rugs."
When first vacuuming your rug, it will lose a little bit of wool from its surface.
It is totally normal and will stop very quickly.
Please wash your rug with soft soap only. The wool is a natural material and it should be treated gently.
In case of dirt stain you can use bicarbonate (baking soda) with water and brush your rug with a soft brush. You can also use Aleppo Soap, French soap (Savon de Marseille) or any other natural soap bar.
Rince the area with water and that’s it.
If the rug is really dirty you can wash it with a plenty of water.
You will need a lot of water, so please try to organize the washing on a terrace or outdoors.
Use plenty of water and add the soap. You can use wool soap or another soft soap.
Brush the rug with a soft brush and rince it with a lot of water.
Roll it one time to wring it and rince again with water.
Roll it again to wring it and open it to let it dry outside, on a sunny weather.
You have to consider that the wool will become really heavy and you should do it only during warm and sunny days.
Make sure that you will have 2 or 3 days of sunny day so the rug could completely dry.
Once a year you can put the rug in a sunny place for few hours.
The ultra-violet make the wool bright and white.
Buying this rug empowers moroccan women and their work.
Thank you for helping them achieve their dreams.
Doing things with love while I am having fun is exactly the way I see My Moroccan Rug.
My interest for beautiful things pushes me to select hight quality rugs. I am truly passionate about designing and much thought goes into combining harmonious colors, premium quality wool for thick rugs and unique designs.
I love the idea that my rugs contribute to the happiness my client feels towards their interior and in their home.