What is Berber Carpet?
Berber carpet is a type of woven floor covering characterized by tightly looped fibers woven in parallel lines, creating a dense, low pile. This dense quality gives Berber carpet the reputation of durability and strength.
Berber carpet is produced in several materials, including wool, nylon and olefin. Nylon and olefin are synthetic fibers, that, when treated, can be highly stain resistant and fairly easy to clean. Wool, while less stain resistant, is a natural fiber that does not contain the petrochemicals found in materials like olefin.
The classic Berber carpets were produced in light colors; beiges, tans, ivories. Today, Berber carpet is produced in a full spectrum of color, usually including variations within that color. The varied colors within a single carpet give Berber carpets a “speckled” and textured look that serve to hide dirt, vacuum marks and stains. As such, Berber carpets can be an excellent choice for higher traffic areas within the home or for light commercial use.
Moroccan Berber Carpets
The term “Berber” refers to the indigenous tribes of Morocco and North Africa. The Berber have a long tradition of producing woven textiles and their unique rural carpets are known simply as Berber Carpets. Unlike the modern Western version of the Berber carpet, the traditional textiles were produced in a wide variety of colors and patterns. These patterns consist of abstract shapes and show a rich history of individual expression by the mostly female weavers.
