About Our Rugs
Sustainably Handwoven in Morocco.
Each Nouvelle Nomad rug is a unique handwoven artwork, originating from the various Berber tribes and traditional handcraft regions of Morocco.
Since 2016 we've been partnering with local family businesses, artisan weavers and specialty carpet traders here in Marrakech to source our unique collection from the villages of the Atlas Mountains, the carpet auctions and the souks.
Curated Authentic Vintage Rugs
Our lovingly curated collection of authentic vintage rugs are mostly aged between 30-80 years old, handwoven by Berber women many years ago for use around the home or for trade - full of history and character, and perfectly aged in all the right places.
With many of the old style weaving techniques no longer in use, these special pieces when found in great vintage condition are now considered collectors items and a special piece of art to be treasured.
Each vintage rug in our collection is hand washed and hand restored by our artisan partners here in Marrakech before being shipped to their new homes around the world to ensure they arrive fresh and clean. Light hand repairs are done to fix any small holes, frayed edges or damaged end tassels using naturally dyed wools and materials that best suit the original weaving style.
Size availability of vintage rugs from Morocco can be limiting, with the traditional looms rarely measuring much wider than 2m. Shapes of the traditional style rugs are often long and slim to suit the regional style and the architecture of the time.
If you find a rug in the collection that you love but the size is not quite right - we offer alterations services for our vintage pieces by request. Including rug shortening to suit your space (when suitable for the rug), restoring or removing the original end tassels, or cutting a large rug into two pieces to give you two smaller sized rugs.
Newly Handwoven Contemporary Rugs
Our newly handwoven collection is just a small example of the wide range available in both traditional and contemporary style Moroccan rugs and carpets. From flat woven kilim styles, to thick and fluffy shag pile rugs.
Each region having it's own unique weaving styles, distinctive designs and wool qualities. Handwoven on traditional looms in 100% sheep wool, naturally plant and vegetable dyed with local herbs, flowers and spices to achieve the vibrant colour palettes and rich earthy tones.
The designs of contemporary Moroccan style rugs range from sold single colour pieces with various textures, weights and pile heights available. Through to bright, bold and artistic abstract creations. Each piece a unique one of a kind item.
Generally the newly handwoven pieces will be available in larger sizes than the vintage pieces, so if you're looking for a rug that's 3x4m or larger then a new make rug is the way to go.
Custom Rugs Program - Made To Order
We also offer bespoke made to order rugs in our custom rugs program - choose your size, design, pile-height and colour from our signature colour palettes and Nouvelle Nomad designs to suit your space and we'll have your rug handwoven by our artisan partners with a 3 month lead time.
These beautiful, premium carpets preserve traditional weaving techniques and support the work of local artisan communities. Offering a beautiful sustainable and ethically produced alternative to the machine-made and mass produced rugs from commercial homewares brands and retailers.
Curated Authentic Vintage Rugs
Contemporary Handwoven Rugs
Our Guide
The Different Moroccan Rug Styles
We focus on sourcing a few main types of authentic vintage Moroccan rugs for the Nouvelle Nomad collection;
Beni Ourain Rugs - the classic natural white or cream Moroccan rug with simple black, brown or charcoal geometric designs in thick 100% natural un-dyed sheep's wool.
Boujad rugs - the iconic bright, colourful and artistic Moroccan style rugs often with large central diamond shapes and full of Berber symbology.
This article here gives you more detail on the different styles of weaving and unique designs from the various regions and tribes.
Our Guide
Rug Cleaning & Care
Due to their age, natural dyes and handwoven nature of vintage rugs, there are a few important things to keep in mind to ensure your rug remains in great condition for years to come.
Good rug care starts with choosing the right rug for your space and it's intended use, including being mindful of how much direct sunlight and foot traffic you expect.
Keeping cleaning to the basics with regular vacuuming, occasionally hanging outside for some fresh air and avoiding any harsh chemicals or detergents.
FAQ
Are Moroccan Rugs Good Quality?
The old style rugs made in Morocco are some of the best quality carpets of the traditional rug producing regions globally.
The premium and high quality hand spun wools used from local sheep, the process of naturally plant and vegetable dying the colours, and the traditional weaving techniques used in Morocco mean that a single rug can take an artisan weaver or a number of women many weeks or months to produce on the traditional looms.
Their dense piles, tight loop knots and colour fast dyes are made for versatility and durability in the various climates and terrains. Thick wool rugs for warmth in the colder regions of the mountains, and practical flat woven rugs for the hotter more arid cities and desert regions.
Traditionally made for personal use around the home, as treasured family heirlooms or decorations, the old style vintage rugs from Morocco were made to last a lifetime.
It's only more recently that the lesser quality rugs have started appearing in the tourist driven areas.
How can you tell if a Moroccan rug is genuine?
Moroccan rugs are hand woven on traditional looms, with very specific weaving techniques unique to Morocco.
Many large rug retailers and commercial rug brands these days are calling their mass produced machine made rugs "Berber Rugs" or "Beni Rugs" referring to the style made famous by the artisans of Morocco - when in actual fact they are made in India and other regions with wool from other countries.
Genuine Berber rugs can only be handwoven by Moroccan artisan weavers in Morocco. The traditional hand done knots able to be clearly seen from the under side of the carpet.
All Nouvelle Nomad rugs are sourced directly from the artisan weavers and specialist carpet traders in Morocco. Ensuring each piece is of high quality and genuine.
Why are Moroccan rugs so expensive?
Due to their growing popularity over the last few decades, the authentic vintage, antique and mid-century rugs from Morocco are becoming much harder to find these days. Making the true vintage pieces in great condition highly collectable and more valuable than the newer style rugs.
Not all Moroccan rugs are created equal though of course - like anything you get what you pay for. Some of the newer style pieces made for tourist shops in the cities are often made with cheaper imported wools with synthetic dyes, or chemically bleached and faded to look vintage. So if the price looks low, best to ask more questions.
Much of the cost of buying a Moroccan rug in the Western world is in the transport and logistics to get your rug from Morocco to the other side of the world.
Do Moroccan rugs smell?
The nature of vintage rugs of this age, and the natural wool they are made of often means that a rug often holds a natural woolly smell.
While this is common in vintage pieces, it should never be too noticeable or over bearing.
The thick wool of a vintage Moroccan rug can often take on kitchen smells, bacteria from pets and spills from food over time.
Taking your rug to a professional rug cleaning service every couple of years is a great way to keep it in good condition for years to come.
This smell may seem stronger if stored in a confined space, like in plastic, or in a car on a hot day as wool sweats and can breed bacteria. So try to only ever store your rug in a breathable cotton cover.
If your rug has been in storage for a while, giving it some breathing space by hanging outside in natural light to kill any bacteria or musty smells.
If this doesn't fix the whiff, the best treatment is to take to a professional rug cleaning service for a routine clean, with an anti bacterial wash to kill any bacteria.
If your Moroccan rug smells of chemicals - see the next point.
How are Moroccan rugs faded?
Most of the faded vintage Moroccan rugs you'll see on the market have started their life either as a deep red, purple or rich saffron colour that has been washed back to a softer tonal pallet from the natural dyes having contact with direct sunlight.
The faded back vintage carpets in good condition have been naturally sun faded with age and time.
Due to the fairly recent trend for the muted tones and faded Moroccan pieces, sometimes older style rugs in deep colours which aren't as 'fashionable' now, will be left out in the sun to get this trending sun bleached and faded look.
Many rug sellers now artificially fade both new and old pieces with chemical bleach to get this similar effect. While this is a perfectly legitimate way to fade back a rug, it does affect the integrity of the wool fibres. So if you have purchased a chemically bleached rug you may find that the wool smells of bleach, and sheds and disintegrates over time.
We only source and stock rugs that are in their beautiful original condition, and with their original colourings that have naturally sun faded with age and time. We avoid any rugs that have been chemically bleached.
