Association Tithrite · Ait Hamza
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
SIZE
1m 92cm x 94cm x 3cm — 6ft 4in x 3ft 1in x 1in
WEIGHT
4350 g
MATERIALS
Cotton Thread and Synthetically Dyed Wool
PRODUCT ID
#18962
Pile knot rugs, or zrbya rugs in Ait Hamza, are plush warm rugs, and are one of the most popular carpets that the association weaves. The designs and color reflect the culture and nature that define Ait Hamza. In many Tazrbit carpets that the association produces, letters from the Tifinagh alphabet (Berber language) can be found within the designs as well.
COLORS IN THIS PIECE
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MEET THE MAKERS
Itto Shedli
Itto was born in a small village outside of Ait Hamza and moved to the village when she married her husband at the age of 19. She and her husband have three children. Her oldest son is almost finished with high school and is one of the best students in her class. Itto did not study in school but is a regular at the association’s literacy class. Her sole source of income is through the sales of her rugs and hopes that after the needs of her family are met she can save a little money to travel to her favorite Moroccan city of Agadir.
Fatima Oukhallou Mimoun
Fatima Oukhlu Fatima was born in Ait Hamza during the 1960’s. She was born into a poor family and never went to school because when she was younger only boys could attend school. Instead of school, Fatima learned how to weave and sold her weavings to notable people in her village and also sold rugs from time to time to cover the costs of food and clothing for her family. When she married, she furnished her new home entirely with rugs that she created by hand. Since the family she married into didn’t have a flock of sheep as many families did at the time, she continued to weave to help support her family. She joined Association Tithrite in order to generate more income from her work, and she has been at the association since it began.
VISIT THE VILLAGE
Association Tithrite 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.
Ait Hamza, Morocco · about 1 heure 46 min from Fez
