Every spring, when the days grow warmer and the sunlight stays up a little longer, a familiar routine returns to the Moroccan countryside: sheep shearing season. Across the High Atlas, Anti-Atlas, and Middle Atlas Mountains, this centuries-old tradition marks the beginning of the Moroccan wool cycle—a key moment that unites generations of shepherds, artisans, and weavers. Villagers gather in open and mountain fields to shear their flocks, maintaining a practice that has sustained rural life for centuries. It’s a time filled with both purpose and community spirit, marking the first step in transforming raw wool into the beautifully handmade Moroccan rugs that carry the soul of Morocco.
This is where each year’s ethically sourced wool begins its journey.
Local shepherds and Imazighen families gather each spring to shear their flocks, working together in a scene that feels both lively and deeply familiar. The thick winter coats that once kept the sheep warm throughout the cold mountain months are gently removed, leaving the animals lighter and more comfortable. Beyond its necessity for the sheep’s well-being, this moment carries a special meaning; it’s the start of a new cycle. The freshly gathered wool will soon be cleaned, hand-spun, and eventually woven into the beautiful handmade wool rugs that tell the story of Morocco’s land and people.
Exactly like the Moroccan rug tradition, in many mountain villages, sheep shearing remains a hands-on craft, carried out with traditional shears and techniques passed down through generations. Each person works with steady hands and years of experience, treating the animals with care and attention. Once the wool is collected, it’s sorted and prepared by hand, ensuring the best fibers are preserved while minimizing waste. Every step of the process honors a sustainable way of life, where nothing is rushed and every detail matters, keeping alive the wisdom and rhythm of Morocco’s rural heritage.
At Babakech, our custom Moroccan rugs begin right where tradition does, and it wouldn't be possible without Morocco’s shearing season. We source our wool directly from local shepherds and families who gather every spring to shear their flocks. Every fiber we use comes from ethically sheared and sustainably handled wool, ensuring respect for both the animals and the environment. This careful process connects our work to the land and the people who make it possible, allowing each handwoven Moroccan rug to carry the warmth, values, and authenticity of its origins.
If you’re looking for naturally sourced Moroccan wool rugs made in Morocco, it all begins in May, out in the fields, with the sheep, the shears, and the hands that start the entire process. It’s the first step in a journey that transforms raw wool into the handwoven wool area rugs that carry Morocco’s story, one thread at a time.
