Association Zaouia · Sidi Yahya Ou Youssef
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
SIZE
2m 8cm x 1m 26cm x 1cm — 6ft 10in x 4ft 2in x 1in
WEIGHT
3550 g
MATERIALS
Cotton Thread and Mouzoun
PRODUCT ID
#28217
Handira rugs used to be placed in every home. It was considered to be a piece of clothing that would be worn outside. It is now used for decoration and gifted to young women about to be wed.
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MEET THE MAKERS
Rouna Ouaari
Rouna was born in Ait Chaa Ouali, but moved away from her home village when she got married. She lost her husband in 2009 to cancer. Together they had four daughters and four sons, two of their daughters are now married and moved to their husbands’ villages. Another daughter is pursuing her high school studies in the nearby small city of Tounfite. Her last daughter is teaching at the local association’s kindergarten. All of her sons travel around to the big cities in Morocco doing construction work. Rouna specializes in weaving pile knot rugs, which she learned from her mum and other local women. She joined Association Zaouia when it opened three years ago, but they have not had enough sales to allow her to earn a sustainable income. She wishes that her daughter will become a teacher and have a nice family of her own in a bigger city with better opportunities. If she can afford it, she would also like to do her pilgrimage to Mecca.
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
