Zat Valley Vintage Beni Ourain

Keltouma and her daughter Soukina lead this group of 25 artisans from a Village just outside Beni M’rirt, in the Middle Atlas Mountains. Founded in the early 2000s, the collective makes medium to high hand-knot rugs, a style named after the region as well as M’rirt Zanafi rugs, their interpretation of the Zanafi style from the southeast.

Traditional rugs from this region use a thick knotting technique, which makes the rugs feel extra plush.

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.