“Language is the essence of one’s ethnicity, one’s roots”… hence the reason my father wanted me to learn how Berbers communicate., he sent me to live with my Aunt in the high mountains, the area now known as the Middle Atlas. As an artisan weaver she tasked me with measuring the living rooms of her customers. With pride and curiosity, I walked heel-toe across the rooms just as my aunt had taught me. She and her artisan friends wove the finest rugs and as I watched them work the looms, sometimes pulling thread gracefully and other times forcefully, I learned not only the spoken language of the Berber, I learned the visual language.
I wanted to go back to my Berber roots and be more creative in design and weaving, to produce imaginative designs and nurture the tradition of these fine, artistic, bohemian textiles and rugs.
Moroccan rug motifs influenced designers such as Ivan Da Silva Bruhn and Vladimir Boberman. American Interior Designer Francis Elkins used them in some of her most notable interiors in the 1930’s and 1940’s.
The symbolism of the Berber tradition is often referred to as the “Infinite Rapport”, meaning the pattern and the spirit of the work extends beyond its physical borders. Many examples of Berber carpets show shifts in the pattern, reflecting a change in life events, a different weaver taking over the rug or spontaneous creative expression. As many Berber women believe the rugs are imbued with a spirit, either from the imprint of the artist or from the living nature of the wool, they resist monitoring the progression of their work, often revealing the entire rug only after it has been completed. Once the deeply laborious weaving process is completed, the finished rugs are considered part of the family and are the prized possession of the home.The Berbers carefully preserve their heritage of technique and knowledge passing down messages in wool from one generation to another. While preserving history, the elemental nature of Berber weaving is an execution of pure instinct. Weaving is not only an inherent rite of passage but also an act of expression. The women that manifest these works have a story to tell: While some rugs document a personal experience, other weavings carry a more ancestral message passed down over time. Many of the at's artisans weave their tales organically, while others intentionally channel inherited knowledge into the loom. The life rituals of the Berber women, including fertility, birth, and the protective role of men, are narrated in an abstract form. It is pure coincidence that the Berber carpets, with their simplistic form and geometric purity, appear modern to the Western eye, as each one is deeply rooted in ancient history.
It is our mission to bring the rich tradition and culture of the Berber people into the western living spaces.
Atlas Weavers shares this artistic abstract meaning with the world, helping to preserve heritage and ancient weaving skills. Creating jobs and supporting the development of thriving artisan weaving communities by protecting the environment in which they live and work allows our families to flourish in the future.
Atlas Weavers is a fair trade project.
We offer various designs and sizes in our online shop and custom orders with bespoke designs to any dimension. We work closely with interior designers and rug retailers to ensure optimum quality and customer service.
We are committed to delivering beautiful, long lasting Moroccan rugs & textiles. By doing so, we are passing our tradition to your home.
Atlas Weavers boutique was established In New York since 1993