Go Really Wild for Textiles

Maison Tiskiwin Collection

Embroidery: Traditionally women embroidered their own clothes and household linens.  They preferred to work in silk threads and could incorporate fine metal threads, tassels, fringing and sequins.  Gold thread embroidery (a speciality of Meknes) and leather work was left to men. Distinctive embroidery motifs and techniques varied from town to town.  Some of the better known work comes from Fes, Rabat, Tetouan, Chefchaouen, Meknes and Sale.

Weaver at work in his small studio Chefchaouen

Carpets:  Weaving and knotting techniques, designs and symbols vary from region to region.  On the whole, carpets are referred to by their place of origin (city carpets) or tribal area (Berber carpets), such as the Zenmour, Haouz and Beni M’Guild.  Learning about carpets, particularly antique carpets is a demanding study so it would be wise to seek advice before sealing a deal. 

Ingredients & Implements for Dyeing, Berber Museum Ksar El Khorbat 

Natural Dyes:  Vegetables and minerals provide the basis of the process; indigo for blue, madder for red; pomegranate or walnut for black, saffron for yellow.  Synthetic dyes have largely replaced natural dyes despite a growing call for them.  Check with an expert if it’s important to you.

Maison Tiskiwin Collection

Costumes:  Clothing is not usually sumptuously decorated. (So they say in the texts until you see the wild colours & decoration in Maison Tiskiwin!) Thus accessories such as belts, silk buttons, tassels and braiding feature fine embroidery.  Further ornamentation is added with head-dress and jewellery. The Oudaias Museum in Rabat has a very fine and comprehensive display of jewellery by region.

Kasbar Museum, Chefchaouen