Yasmine El Idrissi · 7 min · Culture
Morocco's craft traditions are among the most diverse and ancient in the world. Here is how to buy well and support genuine artisans.
Morocco produces three distinct carpet traditions: the geometric Berber carpets of the High Atlas, the more intricate Middle Atlas wool pieces from Azilal and Beni Ouarain, and the urban Rabati and Fasi flatweaves. Genuine handwoven pieces are found at cooperatives, certified ensemble artisanal shops, and weekly village markets — not in the tourist souk carpet shops where commissions inflate prices dramatically.
The main ceramics centres are Safi (blue-and-white glazed), Fes (the blue Fessi style with intricate floral patterns), and Tamegroute in the south (green-glazed). Zellige tilework — geometric mosaic tiles cut by hand from coloured terracotta — is produced primarily in Fes and is available in large flat pieces or complete table-top sets.
Brass lanterns, copper teapots, and silver jewellery are all made by hand in the metalworking souks of Marrakech and Fes. Look for the silver quality mark (925 hallmark) on jewellery sold as sterling silver. Traditional Berber silver jewellery — large pieces set with amber, coral and enamel — is more robust and authentic than the lighter filigree tourist pieces.
Moroccan leather — tanned in open-air tanneries using traditional vegetable and mineral methods in Fes and Marrakech — is genuinely excellent quality. Babouche slippers, handbags, belts, and leather ottomans are all good purchases. The best leather is sold through licensed artisan cooperatives; the cheapest souk leather is often inferior chemically-tanned material.
Handwoven Moroccan Berber carpets — particularly from the High Atlas and Middle Atlas — are among the finest in the world. Natural wool dyes, traditional patterns and centuries of technique produce pieces that last generations. The challenge is distinguishing genuine hand-knotted pieces from machine-made tourist copies.
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