In Fatima’s home
Fatima lives in a village located in the hilly terrain of the High Atlas. We make our way to her house from the roof, where, under the blazing sun a batch of wool is fermenting in a bath enriched with fresh saffron petals, covered in plastic. We are here during the saffron harvest season, so the women of the family are all assisting with the preparations, as the flowers picked at dawn need to be processed by the end of the day. Fatima's husband, Mohammed, is also at home, sorting saffron, which is not a common sight around here – local men are usually reluctant to participate in tasks considered "feminine," and are generally not present during our interviews. Mohammed, however, is a warm, kind, and cheerful man who doesn’t mind at all that we are chatting with his wife—on the contrary, he often kindly comments on her answers. Meanwhile we are invited to join the work as well—our hands stay busy as we talk.
Fatima's husband, Mohamed Processing Saffron, Photo: Matti Varga
View From Fatima's Apartment, Photo: Matti Varga
Inside the House
Fatima's House
Fatima weaving with Fadma in the background, Photo: Matti Varga
Fatima's Hammer Comb in the window
Fatima on the Roof of Her House
Wool Fermenting With Saffron Petals
For instance, we learn that each saffron flower holds three precious stigmas, which must be delicately removed one by one. The locals separate the stamens and purple petals, using them to dye the wool. Fatima enthusiastically explains the fermentation process taking place on the roof, which produces a deep, dark green or dark purple hue, depending on how long the wool ferments with the fresh petals. According to her, this ancient method creates entirely different shades than the more conventional approach of boiling the wool in dye bath.
Although she doesn’t appear old, Fatima is one of the senior weavers in the collective. In rural Morocco, children’s births were not officially registered in the past, so many people don’t know their exact age. Today, registration rates are much higher, as the lack of an official birth certificate can be a disadvantage when it comes to healthcare and schooling. By her own estimation, Fatima is between fifty and seventy years old, while her husband—whom she married at a very early age, around twelve years old—believes she is just over forty.
"I’ve been making rugs for as long as I can remember. I started learning from my mother because girls in my village didn’t have the opportunity to go to school. I used to weave for personal use, but now I often work on commissions. At first, only on a small scale, but today, I can increasingly support my family financially through my work," she shares with us.
Fatima, a specialist in plant-based dyeing
Fatima is not only a master of dye plants but also highly skilled in various dyeing techniques. That’s why the members of the weaving collective always turn to her for all colour-related questions, from the plant’s optimal harvesting time to the choice of fixing agents. In case of larger orders, she supervises the creation of the entire colour palette.
"I especially love colours— they play a defining role in my weavings. I enjoy working with a lively colour palette the most. When it comes to patterns, sometimes I follow motifs passed down from my ancestors, other times I let my imagination flow freely and I decorate my rugs spontaneously," Fatima shares about her creative process.
"The youngsters in the village are very active as well, and they try to learn as much as possible. In addition to weaving techniques, we are teaching them about the secrets of botanical dyeing," she adds. Naturally, Fatima has passed this legacy on to her only daughter out of her five children. Saadia, who is now a key member of the local weaving collective was indeed one of the first participants in our interview series. You can read our conversation with her here.
Fatima overlooking the wool dying process
Washing of the Dyed Wool, Photo: Matti Varga
Wool Cooking in the Dye Bath on open fire
Weavers Checking the wool shades
A local Dye Plant
Traditional Amazigh eye Liner Hanging on the Wall, Photo: Matti Varga
Fatima sitting in Front of Her Loom, Photo: Matti Varga
Fatima stops weaving for a moment
Fatima Working on Her Rug
Bespoke rug for one of Our Dear Customers, in progress
The Second Loom in the house
Fatima has looms set up in two rooms of her house: on one, she is working on a piece from our new collection, while on the other, she is creating a custom order for a dear regular customer.
"Creating a perfect rug takes time. If you dedicate enough to it, the result will be excellent—and vica versa. To ensure my pieces are as beautiful as possible I always give my work the attention and energy it needs. For me, quality is the priority. While weaving, I forget all my worries and immerse myself completely in the process," says Fatima, who hopes to continue her craft for the rest of her life.
Edited by Lilla Gollob (co-founder of Edit)