Association Tithrite · Ait Hamza
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
SIZE
2m 20cm x 1m 10cm x 2cm — 7ft 3in x 3ft 7in x 1in
WEIGHT
5500 g
MATERIALS
Cotton Thread and Tadout - Wool
PRODUCT ID
#8791
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.
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MEET THE MAKERS
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.
Zahra Idrissi
Zahra started weaving when she was eight years old. Her female neighbour taught her how to weave. She never went to school and she used to work for some rich families in order to support her own family. Her parents died and then she lived with her brother and his wife. Now that she's a member of Tithrite Association, she no longer feels like she's a burden to her brother. She hopes to help her poor community because she knows how it feels. She likes to weave alot and she thinks that it always feels good to earn money from what she likes to do.
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
