Cooperative Nahda · Souq El Hed
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
SIZE
3m 80cm x 2m 15cm x 3cm — 12ft 6in x 7ft 1in x 1in
WEIGHT
25900 g
MATERIALS
Tadout - Wool, Cotton, and Natural wool
PRODUCT ID
#7153
Beni Ourain style rugs are pile knot rugs intricately designed and are used as two sided rugs in Oued Ifrane. There is the summer side, when the pile side is placed face down on the ground to keep things cooler. During the winter, the pile side is placed up to keep things warmer. You can find these carpets with natural wool from the local sheep or cotton yarn bought from the village market. Depending on the size of the rug, it can take weeks to create. Each knot needs to be individually tied and cut, so one person is only able to create a meter in two weeks.
See something off — or want to help the artisans improve? Rate this piece in Rate-o-Rama →
MEET THE MAKERS
aicha mhdaoui
Aicha Mehdoui was born in Oued Ifrane and specializes in all the products that the association produces. She hopes to use her income with the sales to build a new house in the village.
Anana Mehdawi
Anana was born in 1972 in Ait Leus, Oued Ifrane where she has lived her whole life. She has never had the opportunity to attend school. Since she was a young girl, she has been shepherding her family's animals. She learned weaving from her mother. She was married, but her husband left her after he found out that she was pregnant. Now she raises her daughter by herself, and is intent on giving her daughter a full education. Both of her parents have passed away, so she alone provides financial support for her family. One of the women who created the Assocation is her sister, allowing her to be part of the coop community. In the past, she would just sell her products in the weekly market, and now she hopes to sell them to a larger online market place.
VISIT THE VILLAGE
Cooperative Nahda hosts visitors in their village — share tea, watch the artisans at work, and see the craft up close. Visits start at $14 per person, and most of it goes straight to the group.
Souq El Hed, Morocco · about 2 heures 17 minutes from Fez
