Association Zaouia · Sidi Yahya Ou Youssef
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
SIZE
1m 37cm x 86cm x 2cm — 4ft 6in x 2ft 10in x 1in
WEIGHT
2650 g
MATERIALS
Cotton Thread
PRODUCT ID
#25865
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.
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MEET THE MAKERS
Mouna Ikhyaten
Mouna was born in Zaouia and has never had the opportunity to attend school. She married a man from a local village and is the mother of seven children: four boys and three girls. Mouna takes care of the housework and the children, and loves her work in embroidery as part of the cooperative. She specializes in Hanbel rugs and jellaba buttons. Mouna enjoys traveling to Kenifra, and hopes one day to buy a new house for her family. Mouna sees the association as a wonderful source of income for the women of the village.
VISIT THE VILLAGE
Association Zaouia hosts visitors in their village — share tea, watch the artisans at work, and see the craft up close. Visits start at $17 per person, and most of it goes straight to the group.
Sidi Yahya Ou Youssef, Morocco · about 4 hours from Fez
