Weaving the Aït Ouaouzguite Carpet

The Aït Ouaouzguite carpet is classified as a rural carpet due to its artistic and technical characteristics. It has developed its own distinctive style, gaining recognition and acclaim both in Morocco and inteationally. The region of Aït Ouaouzguite is known for its extensive grazing lands, which provide pasture for sheep that supply the wool used in carpet-making. The wool is sheared by men, then combed and dyed by women using natural dyes. The women spin the wool into ya and weave it into threads, following inherited local pattes. These threads are used to create traditional garments such as the akhnif buous or carpets adoed with geometric pattes of circles, squares, and triangles. The colour palette often features shades of red, yellow, and orange. To support their craft, female weavers have established cooperatives in villages near Tazenakht. These cooperatives help facilitate access to raw materials and enable the profitable marketing of their products. The Aït Ouaouzguite carpet has become a vital source of income, boosting the local economy while preserving the ancient weaving traditions of the region.