We can all agree that Moroccan rugs are one of the most visually appealing handmade rugs out there—with all their imperfections, but they can also be somewhat expensive. Some of these area rugs are so expensive that it can be hard to justify spending a lot of money on one. What exactly makes these rugs so pricey? We'll explore the reasons behind their cost and tips for bringing home a Moroccan rug without breaking your bank account.
Women Weavers Use an Ancient Knotting Technique
Moroccan rugs are expensive because they're made entirely by hand, using an ancient knotting technique that dates back before time. The Berber knot is used to tie the threads of a Moroccan rug, and it's not just any old knot. It's a double knot that can be difficult to untie once it has been tied. The Berber knot is not something you can tie quickly; this makes it an excellent choice for rug-making since the time spent on each rug will ensure that no two are alike. In fact, every single Moroccan rug is different from all other rugs because each one was made by hand using this particular type of knotting technique. This makes them unique pieces of art that have stories to tell—and we think that makes them worth their high price tag!
Berber Artisans Have Been Weaving Moroccan Rugs for Thousands of Years
The Berbers' expertise with weaving is passed down from generation to generation, and they use natural dyes that require time and care to produce. The end result is a labor-intensive product that takes months to make, so it's no surprise that these rugs can be quite pricey. But if you're looking for quality and style, then Moroccan rugs may be the perfect option for your interior home!
If you've ever visited Morocco, you may have noticed that the country is famous for its rugs. While they're beautiful and unique to the country and the people weaving them. The process of making these rugs is a long one that involves multiple steps, but it's mostly done by hand. For example, a medium-sized rug can take two women anywhere between three months to three years to make! One woman weaves the rug while the other one works as a loom holder, holding it tightly together as she weaves around her body.
Wool is Sheared from the Sheep that Live in the Same Village
If you’ve ever wondered why Moroccan rugs are so expensive, you might not have considered the answer: it’s because of how they are made. In Morocco, animal husbandry and textile production go hand-in-hand. The sheep that supply the wool live in the same village as their shearers and spinners. Their wool is shorn by hand using a stone knife and then washed in streams before being dyed using natural dyes such as indigo or henna. Finally, this freshly dyed wool is spun into yarn and woven into rugs on large looms by women who do this for a living.
Moroccan Rugs are Dyed Using Organic, Natural Vegetable Dyes
The colors in Moroccan rugs are not made with synthetic dyes like your typical machine-made rug, but rather natural dyes extracted from a variety of plants, flowers, and roots. The extraction process can be long and tedious, but the end result is so worth it!
The dyes are extracted using a number of different methods depending on the dye color being produced. For example, indigo blue is extracted by fermenting leaves of the indigo plant (Indigofera tinctoria) in water for at least 48 hours before being filtered through the cloth into another container. Red hues are obtained from henna (Lawsonia Inermis), which has been used for over 5,000 years to create natural red-orange colors. Other common colors used include rose madder (Rubia tinctorum), saffron crocus (Crocus sativus), and weld (Reseda luteola).
Moroccan Rugs are Beautifully Made Because of This Artisanal Process
The best Moroccan rugs are made by skilled women artisans who are paid well and take pride in their work. They are part of a tradition, they contribute to the culture of their country and they contribute to the history of their community. When you buy a rug from these artisans, you're buying something that has been made with care by someone who is proud of her work and happy that it's being appreciated by someone else, while also contributing to the continuity of this rich tradition.
We hope that this article has given you a deeper appreciation for the artistry, quality, and craftsmanship that go into the making of a handmade Moroccan rug. Whether you’re shopping for one to decorate your home or office, or simply want to know why they cost so much more than other types of rugs on the market today, it is important to understand what makes these rugs so special. The best way to learn more about them is by visiting any number of websites dedicated to their sale and purchasing online or you can always visit the Bazars that sell them in Morocco if feeling adventurous.