Hanbel rug with pastel stripes

In our "Meet the makers" series, we invite you to delve deeper into the lives of the remarkable makers behind our exquisite rugs, forging connections across cultures. Through our partnership with Amazigh weavers, we’ve had the privilege of meeting extraordinary women whose stories and life journeys resonate deeply. Their experiences, challenges, and intimate relationships with rug making enrich all our lives, reminding us of the beauty of age-old traditions and creativity.

In this second episode, we proudly introduce Hlima, who has been weaving for 47 years and is an integral part of a talented team of weavers in the breathtaking High Atlas Mountains.

If you tempted to purchase a plush, Moroccan wool rug, but are hesitant due to cleaning concerns, you’ve come to the right place. Hand-knotted wool rugs can be beautiful additions to your home and are extremely durable. In their original tribal environments, they serve multiple generations. But what’s the secret to maintaining these rugs’ beauty over the long term? This article aims to show you just that.

Below, we’ve collected a bundle of tips and tricks on how to care for your hand-knotted wool rug, what to expect throughout its life cycle, and what you can do to ensure that it remains eye-catching for years to come. We hope by the end, you’ll feel that maintaining Moroccan rugs is not as daunting as you thought.

Living in a picturesque village nestled in Morocco’s majestic High Atlas Mountains, Saadia and Aicha are two talented young weavers who transform raw wool into beautiful rugs, while also bringing meaningful changes to their own lives and the lives of those around them. Bonded by friendship and a shared passion for weaving, these remarkable women have embraced the art form that has been a vital part of their culture for generations and we are lucky enough to bring both their gorgeous rugs and their stories directly to you. 

We take pride in sourcing our rugs from diverse weaving communities throughout Morocco. Each region has its own unique weaving techniques, raw materials, patterns, designs, and post-weaving processes. These local distinctions are what we love most, and we strive to curate our collections to showcase the variety of rug types we find appealing. While regional characteristics have become less distinct over time, many types of Moroccan rugs were originally linked to specific geographical areas and are often named after their places of origin. Here’s a brief overview of the unique traits and differences among the various types of Moroccan rugs in our collection.

Many of you have been following our work for quite some time now and you may be surprised by the recent change of our brand name from Berber Budapest to Abra. Now we would like to take a moment to explain the reasons behind the change and to share with you the process that has eventually led us to the rebranding.

One of Abra’s core values is fostering personal relationships with the artisans behind our rugs. Our regular trips to Morocco offer more than just the chance to discuss orders and curate selections—they allow us to share meaningful time together. These visits deepen our understanding of the creative process while strengthening our bonds and friendships with the weavers. We are continually inspired by these resilient and dedicated Amazigh women, whose skill and perseverance not only support their families but also bring enduring beauty into the world. In this episode you will get to know Fatima, who has been working with us from the start and is responsible for many of our unique pieces. Her specialty is wool dyeing, so you'll also get a glimpse of the intriguing dyeing techniques that create the rich colour palette of Abra's rugs.

We frequently receive questions about how we collaborate with the Amazigh weavers who craft our rugs. We work directly with the artisans to ensure they receive a fair price for their dedicated work, visiting their communities every few months to nurture our relationships and oversee the creation process. To give you a glimpse into how this works in practice, we’d love to share some photos and words from our latest Moroccan adventure, which also marked the inaugural journey of our new brand, Abra.