Before being the name of a category of Berber carpets, "Azilal" is first of all the name of a region of the High Atlas in Morocco, south of Beni Mellal and 330 km from Marrakech. The Tadla-Azilal region . Original creations pleasantly colored, with lively and dynamic lines, which do not fail to associate very warmly with contemporary interiors, Azilal rugs are the fruit of artistic, laborious and empowering work by the women of this region.
Tribaliste reveals everything about this precious Berber carpet, from its creation in the cradle of Berber civilization in Morocco, to its inclusion in modern Western decoration.

•  THE AZILAL REGION AND ITS KNOW-HOW

On the national road leading from Marrakech to Beni Mellal, called the Sultan's road, taken by Lyautey in 1923 to dislodge the Zayane tribes, is the province of Azilal. Having as its epicenter the Ait Boguemaz valley, also known as “the valley of happy people”, the Berber tribes of the Azilal region include the Aït Soukhman and Abdi Ait Said to name a few.
Known for its green landscapes ( pictured here ), the province of Azilal, from the top of its 1351 meters of altitude, attracts more and more visitors especially during the summer period. With a mild climate in summer, harsh and cold in winter, the women of the Berber tribes of Azilal have been weaving carpets since the beginning of the last century to counter the very low temperatures of the cold seasons. Once knotted, the rugs serve as woolen mattresses for all the families in this rural region.

Far from a mass production, it is with originality that the women of Azilal weave each Berber carpet in an artisanal way, following traditions transmitted from mother to daughter through several generations. Irregular patterns in bright colors on a creamy white background, the Azilal rug is made from raw wool from the first shearing to which are added dyed wool, recycled fabrics or cotton threads to embellish it with patterns. . In addition to its shorter wool than that of the Beni Ouarain Carpet , the Azilal is distinguished by the alternation of a line of knotted wool and two lines woven by mesh of delicately intertwined lines. This know-how, which is lost over generations, reinforces the value of these unique pieces.

Beyond the manufacturing process, Azilal rugs are works where the weavers of the Azilal region tell their story through the patterns adorning the purity of the white of the base wool. They appropriate the tribal signs of their ancestors and the Berber alphabet to relate their daily life as rural women. The themes of these arabesques revolve around rural life, fertility, motherhood, birth and marriage. The Azilal Berber carpet can also be the result of a series of discontinuous geometric shapes that evolve according to the inspiration of the weavers. Abstract and irregular, they give the Azilal carpet a unique and exceptional appearance.
This artisanal work has always been rewarding for women weavers because their finished product helps protect their families from harsh winters, but also turns it into a source of income by selling it.

• THE AZILAL CARPET , FROM THE BERBER ELEMENT TO THE DECORATIVE DESIGN OBJECT

Today adored and sought after to adorn the most designer interiors, Azilal rugs are known for the aesthetic pleasure they provide. The colors for the old carpets were made with natural pigments such as saffron, henna or pomegranate. Today, they can be either natural or pigmented with artificial dyes.

On a neutral colored wool, often white, cream or beige, are added generally symmetrical geometric patterns of bright colors, even fluorescent colors ranging from pink to green through yellow... With an average weight of 2.7 kg the square meter, the Azilal rug inspires both a sustained and sober style and a relaxed atmosphere.

Beautiful first of all by their material, the flexibility of their contours, the luminosity of their natural colors and the harmony of their designs, they come to agree with the most natural facilities to modern and contemporary decorative styles. Azilal rugs can complement your living room or children's room, as well as decorate your hallway or entrance hall. Modest in size, from 1 to 2 square meters, they can be transformed into a wall art work.
Beautiful finally because they bring warmth and voluptuousness to your interior, they know how to affirm their cachet despite their alienating kinship with Beni Ouarain rugs.

Are also often associated with Azilal carpets, the carpets called Ourika which are produced a little further south by the Berber tribes of the High Atlas mountains from Demnate in the North, to Imlil in the South covering the mountainous region of Ait Ourir, the Ourika Valley and the Oukaimeden Park .