How to recognize a Berber rug?
Made in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Berber rugs are woven by women using ancestral techniques passed down through generations. How can you recognize an authentic Moroccan Berber rug? We'll explain
Natural materials
Berber rugs are woven from natural materials, primarily virgin sheep's wool. Some types of Berber rugs, such as Azilal rugs , may have a cotton weft thread, but the warp thread and knots are always 100% wool. The sheep that provide the wool for these rugs are raised in the immediate vicinity of the villages where they are woven. A 100% wool rug, free of synthetic fibers, is one of the characteristics that distinguishes an authentic Moroccan Berber rug.
A fair and equitable price
Berber rugs are woven using ancestral methods. Their creation is a lengthy process that unfolds according to the life events of the women who weave them. The size, as well as the complexity of the patterns and colors, requires weaving times that can sometimes last several months. This long manufacturing process, the use of natural and sustainable materials, and the ancestral know-how of these weavers must be fairly compensated. That is why, even though we strive to offer you the lowest prices, buying a Berber rug is an investment. The price, compared to other Berber-inspired rugs, is one of the characteristics that allows you to choose an authentic rug
Unique creations
Each rug is unique: in its dimensions, its patterns, its finish, and its color. While similarities in patterns and colors are common in our selection of Berber rugs, no two rugs are exactly alike, even if woven by the same person. This uniqueness is one of the characteristics that ensures you are acquiring an authentic Berber rug.
And what about the fringes?
Berber rugs traditionally have fringes on only one side, the side where weavers finish the weaving. This tradition is still present in many of the rug designs we offer. However, over the years, with the growing popularity of these handmade decorative rugs, the patterns and colors have evolved (discover, for example, the history of Beni Ouarain rugs here), and the same is true for the fringes and finishes of our various rugs. The presence of fringes on one or two sides is no longer a guarantee of a Berber rug's authenticity.