On-Site Artisans
"Al Amal" Cooperative - Weaving
Organized in 1999, the "Al Amal" Cooperative specializes in handwoven tufted and woven rugs with traditional Middle Atlas designs representative of the native Moroccan Berber culture. The cooperative president and Azrou native, Bouchara, had learned to weave at a young age and brought together a total of 22 women to learn the weaving process at the Ensemble Artisanal.
Today the women hand-weave carpets in a space located in the back of the Ensemble Artisanal. Guests are welcome to watch them work the looms by hand, set up the warp by walking back and forth, or wind yarn on a spindle and cut the pile. They also maintain a display/sales area in a separate showroom. The cooperative is willing to take command orders and can ship items overseas.
Call for pricing and shipping information...
In Morocco: 0535564780 / Internationally: +212 535564780
Mohammed Chaarir - Wood
Mohammed Chaarir is the oldest artisan resident of the Ensemble Artisanal. He is originally from a Saharan town called Tinghir, but has lived and worked in Azrou since 1956. Mohammed specializes in woodcarving with cedar wood. Products include trays, bowls, platters, tables, and other decorative and souvenir items. Along with the wooden sculptures, paintings on canvas are displayed and are up for sale. The paintings are created by Rachid, one of Mohammed's three sons.
“The Azrou region is known for its Berber carpets, at prices substantially cheaper than you’ll find in Fes. (The) Ensemble Artisanal offers cedar and juniper wood and wrought iron.”
Lonely Planet, Morocco
“The chief attraction, other than the mere charm of this lively Berber town, is the best artisan center I saw in the whole of our Moroccan journey. Berber art tends to a naive elegance, stylized rather than representational, as witness the wood carvings of animals, particularly monkeys (prevalent hereabout). There are... good ceramics, wrought-iron work, and absolutely beautiful rugs.... loomed on the premises.”
The Collected Traveler: Morocco
“At the crafts centre items made of cedar, thuya, walnut and juniper are on sale, as are wrought-iron objects and the renowned carpets, with geometric motifs on a red background, made by the Beni M’Gld.”
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide, Morocco
“Azrou has a tradition of weaving as it was an old market town of a nomadic people. Newly woven rugs and blankets can be found at the Tuesday souk or the Ensemble Artisanal.”
World66.com
Nassar Chaarir - Wood
Following senior resident, Mohammed Chaarir, brother Nassar Chaarir arrived to occupy an individual space in the 1960s. Nassar is also a woodcarver specializing in cedar sculptures, platters, tables, souvenirs, decor, bowls, and etc. His skills were passed on by his older brother, Mohammed.
Karim Abdlouahed - Wood
Karim Abdlouahed is a second generation woodcarving resident of the Ensemble Artisanal. Karim is son of former woodcarver, Assou Abdlouahed, who had been a part of Ensemble Artisanal since the 1950s. Today, the Azrou native is following in Assou's footsteps and continuing his father's legacy as a carver. The young artist learned to carve from his father at a young age. He uses cedar and thuya wood, and transforms the raw materials into bowls, bookstands, tables, boxes, platters, sculptures, and other home decor.
Said Jamai - Metal
Said Jamai is self-taught; he has been working with metal since the age of 12. Everything is hand-made using traditional methods - anvil, forge and basic tools.
Call for pricing and shipping information
In Morocco: 062625960 / Internationally: +212 62625960
Mohammed Abdeljbar - Wood
Abdeljbar, the Azrou native, began his professional career as a woodcarver in 1964. After seven months of intense training, Mohammed was accepted into the Ensemble Artisanal as a resident artist where he carves tradition Berber sculptures from woods including thuya, noyer, citronnier, and ceder. He specializes in wooden sculptures, book holders, cosmetic holders, household items such as spoons and spatulas, and also figures of the famous "Barbary Apes" of Azrou. Mohammed's daughter, Faiza, often works with him in the showroom and can aide in communication in several languages.
Mounir Essadki - Musical Instruments
Mounir is an artisan experienced with handmade Moroccan instruments, art on canvass, and sculpting. He studied at a conservatory of music in Meknes, shortly after left school to become a part of an orchestra. He plays the electric guitar, violin, and the banjo, and also sculpts and paints. Mounir learned to hand-make instruments from his father in the 1960s. You can visit his showroom at the Ensemble Artisanal to see the types of work he creates. Products include various types of Moroccan drums, various types Moroccan string instruments, modern instruments, paintings, and sculptures. You can also visit his site on YouTube to see him playing some of his instruments.
"Cherbil y Cherj Azrou" Cooperative - Leather
"Cherbil y Cherj Azrou" is a cooperative formed by Ali Boufares, a leather expert since 1968. The cooperative consists of five other men, all representing three generations of this expertise. Ali learned his skill from his father, who learned from his father. The artisans specialize in hand-making traditional Moroccan leather slippers and leather horse saddles.
"Anmil Dahabia" Cooperative - Weaving
"Anmil Dahabia" Cooperative is a newly formed group of ten female weavers. "Anmil Dahabia" meaning "golden fingers" specializes in finely woven products handmade on horizontal looms, and some of the women embroider as well. Their products include table covers, table clothes, curtains, traditional kaftan and jellaba fabric, scarfs, and small purses. The freshly educated group of young women were trained at the Ensemble Artisanal and in Azrou for two years prior to their welcoming to the Ensemble Artisanal. They welcome guests to view their work and see how items are created.
Youssef Ouahmane - Stone
Azrou native, Youssef Ouahmane professionalizes in rock-carving and sculpting. In 1981, Yusef left Azrou and started rock-carving in the Middle Atlas town called Midelt, where most of his raw materials come from. In 1992, he returned to Azrou and continued his rock-carving career and now has his own space in the Ensemble Artisanal. His products include stone sculptures and rock lamps. Visitors can view his work in the Ensemble Artisanal or at his workplace in the Medina (52 rue Mokhtar Soussi).
Call for pricing and shipping information
In Morocco: 0535561372 or 068159131 / Internationally: +212 535561372 or +212 68159131
Lahcen Sukhman and Lahcen Ghayati - Cane Weaving
Cane weaver, Lahcen Ghayati started weaving cane in 1986. He left Azrou and learned how to weave cane baskets from a basket weaver in Fes. Since then, he has modernized cane weaving and visitors can find him weaving items such as bookshelves, book holders, small tables, and other household decor.
Also weaving with cane in the artist space is Lahcen Sukhman. The Azrou-born artisan has been practicing this profession since 1985. All raw materials are sourced from Azrou, and you may find items such as book shelves, tables, book holders, coat hangers, shelves, and and chairs.
Lahcen and Lahcen both work out of the Ensemble Artisanal and just started their residency here in 2011.
Group Interest Economics (GIE) - Earth Products
The members of this group consist of six cooperatives (five all-female, one all-male). The president of GIE, Hussein Chadli created this group this year with the support of a foreign association and Initiative Nationale pour le Developpement Humain (INDH). The association is based out of Ait Yahya Oualla, but individual cooperatives produce out of surrounding areas in the Ifrane Province. GIE provides aromatic oils, local honey, jams and jellies, couscous, and etc.
