When people talk about Morocco, one of the very first things that comes to mind is its lively markets. In Morocco, the souks are a huge draw for tourists, who love getting lost among the countless stalls displaying the fruits of a centuries-old craft tradition.
Handicrafts are still one of the country’s main economic sectors, followed by tourism, which has helped the country flourish again. The two are closely linked, because tourism-driven trade supports the communities that have made crafts their main livelihood, an activity that has become a fully-fledged part of Moroccan culture.
The whole way commerce works in Morocco is rooted in tradition and in the craftsmanship of a culture that has never wanted to leave its comfort zone of handmade work. There’s great satisfaction in creating by hand objects that become works of real value, and there’s no Moroccan who isn’t proud of the work they do.
Morocco’s cultural richness wouldn’t fascinate Europeans (and Italians above all) as much as it does if it weren’t built on its traditional crafts. All the materials finely worked by hand, or with traditional tools and machines, become decorative and everyday objects that every traveler would love to take home. I’ve never seen anyone on my tours go home without a Moroccan souvenir or without enjoying the wonderful experience of haggling over a purchase. Well, actually I have, but they deeply regretted not having room in their suitcase for a piece of pottery or a rug.
Morocco: a land of crafts and artistic traditions
Strolling through the souks of Morocco, your eyes will meet the beauty of Moroccan craftsmanship, handed down from generation to generation and born of Berber, Arab and African influences. Every handmade piece is a small work of art you can show off at home, bringing with you a little of the local traditions, the craftsmanship and the love of beauty that make Morocco famous.
Its craft heritage is one of Morocco’s most authentic souls, as well as one of the country’s main attractions, a living testimony to its rich history and culture.
In big cities like Fez and Marrakech, you’ll get lost in the markets as if you were in a maze, but don’t panic: it’s part of the beauty of the experience. Fez, Meknes, Tangier, Rabat and Marrakech also have beautiful craft museums I invite you to visit.
But let’s name these “handcrafted works of art”. I’m talking about rugs, ceramics and traditional clothing, but also jewelry, cosmetics, ironwork, woodwork, wickerwork and, last but not least, leather worked in the tanneries.
Perhaps more than any other object, Berber rugs are the most widespread example of Moroccan craftsmanship: handwoven by Berber tribes using different techniques depending on regional influences, rugs aren’t considered mere furnishings in Morocco, but storytellers that recount ancient tales through the bright colors and intricate patterns woven into every piece.
Rugs have enormous symbolic value, expressed in the number of knots and the traditional symbols they contain, and they’re considered small works of art thanks to their very fine decorative techniques. Made mainly from sheep’s wool, Berber rugs are an expression of Moroccan history and culture.
So too, wonderfully, are traditional Moroccan clothes. Moroccans are famous for their traditional dress, worn at celebrations and ceremonies but often in everyday life too. Between gandouras, djellabas, kaftans and babouches, you’ll have plenty to admire, worn by locals or displayed on market stalls.
Traditional techniques are also used to make handmade gold and silver jewelry. You’ll find hundreds of pieces in the Marrakech medina, but they’re also made in other cities like Guelmim, Agadir, Essaouira, Tiznit or Taroudant and sold in the souks.
From the blend of Amazigh and Andalusian cultures come beautiful Moroccan clay ceramics, with shapes, patterns and colors that vary by region. In Morocco, many women artisans shape and decorate ceramics to create everyday objects like the famous couscous and tagine dishes, jugs and bowls, as well as vases and tiles, since high-quality clay is very plentiful in Morocco.
And what about the objects now considered true icons of Moroccan craftsmanship? I’m talking about wrought-iron pieces like candelabras, lanterns, frames, pots and lampshades (also very common in copper, silver and brass). They’re widespread in Marrakech, Fez and Safi, while in Essaouira you’re more likely to find thuya wood objects, a precious wood from the Atlas Mountains. Wood carving is also part of Morocco’s centuries-old craft heritage, followed by weaving with wicker, rattan, rushes and dried palm leaves, materials braided into baskets, bags, hats and furniture.
There are also carved plaster and zellige mosaics, other essential elements of Moroccan architecture, commonly applied to traditional Moroccan objects, especially in Fez.
I’ll end my journey through Moroccan crafts, which owe so much to tourist and sustainable trade, with leather goods. Leatherworking is widespread throughout Morocco, and many ancient tanneries are still active, where cow and goat hides are colored with handmade dyes, a tourist attraction with a strong cultural impact.
Leatherworking is so deeply rooted in Morocco that the country even gave its name to fine leather: in French, maroquin is the word for tanned goatskin, and maroquinerie means leather goods.
Lisa
