Beni Ourain rugs are the among the most prestigious rugs in Morocco, made from the very finest wool. Every piece is one of a kind. Moroccan Beni Ourain rugs are authentic and hand-woven by women from the Beni Ourain area and neighbouring Berber tribes that reside in the North-Eastern Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco. They are also trendy and very popular with decor enthusiasts.

Wool hand spinning

The spinning process transforms the wool. It twists fibres together and makes yarn. They spun the wool into threads that are perfect for weaving. Then the loom and warp are prepared. When you buy a Berber rug, you’ll realize that the warp is made from 100% natural wool.

Knotting

The process of knotting is where you can see the true talent of the craftwoman. These rugs are woven with a little weft between the knots.

Trim and colour

When it’s complete, they colour the patterns with natural dyes. It is then cut from the loom and trimmed. The pile is trimmed using special scissors.

The last steps

The original wool gets dirty after months of knotting. It also gets hard from being attached to the loom. That is why they wash the rugs and dry it once again. They wash it 2-3 times again to ensure it is soft. Then they let each Berber rug dry naturally in the warm sun.

Development of tradition

Hand-woven Beni Ourain rugs take a great deal of skill and time. The knowledge of how to craft Beni Ourain rugs are taught by the mothers and grandmothers of the villages. You will see amazing design and patterns. Many are reflective of the weaver’s stories or thoughts. The themes of this patterns are birth, fertility, nature, femininity, rural life and religious beliefs. Some even believe they are barriers against evil spirits. That’s why luck symbols from tribal ceremonies are often present.

Natural colours of Beni Ourain

Moroccan Beni Ourain rugs are woven from natural creamy sheep wool. It’s the wool that covers the sheep’s body. At first look, the pattern may look black. But actually, they are a very dark brown colour. The deep brown wool is from the sheep’s head. Beni Ourain rugs are the most prestigious in all of Morocco, they are from the finest wool on earth.

Buy a Beni Ourain rug

In our store we buy the finest rugs from tribal artisans so we can the love with you. When it comes to Beni Ourain, the softness is all, that what you will find in our Benisouk shop. Click here to see the softness and the quality if our rugs.