Zat Valley Vintage Beni Ourain

Soukina leads a group of 35 artisans from a village just outside Beni M’rirt in the Middle Atlas Mountains. Founded in the early 2000s by Soukina’s late mother, Ketlouma, the collective specializes in medium to high hand-knot rugs—a style named after the region—as well as M’rirt Zanafi rugs, their unique interpretation of the Zanafi style from the southeast. Traditional rugs from this area are crafted using a thick knotting technique, resulting in an extra-plush texture.

Our Vintage pieces were usually made by grandmas or great aunts and then passed down through generations. Even when a family runs out of room or decides to sell an old rug, they’re bound to bring beauty to their next home.

Most vintage rugs you will find in local Moroccan markets are purchased by male brokers, who visit neighboring villages and buy up all the pieces they can in one transaction.

Our process is different, as we work directly with the women selling these heirloom rug pieces. We visit their homes and neighborhoods to see the pieces in-person and negotiate face-to-face.

One telltale way to spot vintage rugs is by their odd shapes, as they may have been made to fit into old buildings, or specific spaces generations ago.