Carpets are a pretty popular handicraft for tourists to buy in many Muslim dominated countries.
From what I gathered after hearing a few sales pitches, these are made by the Berber women in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. They can be made of camel wool, lamb’s wool or yak wool (sometimes combinations are used, as is silk). Better shops only use natural dyes (i.e. no artificial chemicals). It can take many months to make a single carpet.
(entry door to the carpet shop)
Quality and prices vary from place to place, but they are quite expensive — larger ones going for thousands of dollars. This particular shop was located in Quartier Habous and had nice quality and some lovely colors and pattern. I was strong– resisting the impulse to snap purchase.
But it doesn’t cost anything to look and admire fine craftsmanship.
