As someone who loves unique home decor with a cultural story behind it, Moroccan carpets have always fascinated me. The colors, patterns and craftsmanship reflect such richness and history. But finding authentic tribal pieces can be tricky in America.
That‘s why I was so delighted to discover Benisouk Rugs – a brand curating handmade beauties directly from local cooperatives across Morocco. Beyond lovely carpets, each purchase supports meaningful economic and cultural preservation.
After months of hands-on evaluation, I wanted to share an authentic Benisouk Rugs review outlining my experience as an enthralled customer. Consider this your guide to the origins, people and rugs bringing these artifacts into modern homes.
Overview of Benisouk Rugs
Quick Facts:
- Family-owned brand based in Casablanca, ships worldwide
- Sources handmade rugs across 4 major regions
- Represents over 780 female Moroccan artisans
- Vintage, custom and production collections
- $250 – $7,000 price range
Founded by sisters Sanaâ and Kawtar, Benisouk partners with women-run weaving cooperatives to bring exceptional tribal carpets out of remote villages directly to worldwide consumers. This eliminates exploitive middlemen, ensuring artisans earn fair income while preserving cultural livelihoods.
They have curated a boutique selection of the finest regional styles – from vibrant embroidered Boujads to minimalist Beni Ourains. Shop by tribe, material, pattern or color palette to find your perfect fit. Read detailed perspectives on some of their best sellers ahead.
Where Benisouk Rugs Originate
| Region | Style Highlights | Materials Used |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlas Mountains | • Iconic monochromatic Beni Ourain designs • Decorated Mrirt and Kilim tapestry weaves | • Undyed wool from Berber sheep herds • Natural cotton and jute accents |
| High Atlas Mountains (Azilal) | • Time-honored geometric motifs • Brilliant jewel toned palettes • Tuareg camels wool texture | • Hand-spun virgin wool • Natural vegetable dye from native flowers |
| Central Morocco (Jmaa el Fna) | • Vibrant orange and crimson pomegranate motif • Intricately embroidered patterns passed down generations • Richly worn vintage appeal | • High lanolin "Boucherouite" wool • Cotton rags and mixed media accents |
| Southern Morocco (Haouz Valley) | • Embroidered wool and luxurious cactus silk blends • Lighter modern boho styles • Customizable dimensions and dyed colors | • Cactus fibers harvested from local Aloe fields • Light jute cotton blends |
Ethical Sourcing Practices
By maintaining direct partnerships, Benisouk is able to practice radical transparency in their supply chain – ensuring over 65% of profits flow back to individual artisans versus middlemen. This chart illustrates how much reaches rural women per rug sold.
Additionally Benisouk invests in cultural education programs helping new generations in struggling mountain villages learn the ancient carpet making craft. Reviving these rare skills helps communities cling to cherished traditions in the modern age.
Crafting Custom Orders
Beyond their signature collections, Benisouk welcomes custom orders if you have a dream carpet in mind.
Their workshop artisans can recreate almost any hand-drawn design up to 20 feet wide. You select dimensions, materials, palette and graphic elements while their team handles sourcing and production logistics direct from villages.
Pricing starts around $350 for smaller wool kilims. More intricate 9×12 cactus silk designs run $2,500+. Lead times average 2-3 weeks given the meticulous handcrafting techniques used.
Consider a custom rug for wedding gifts, memorial pieces transferring family tapestries or recreating favorite vacation momentos.
Reviews of Top Benisouk Rug Collections
After 18 months and six rug purchases between family and friends, I feel well equipped to highlight some of Benisouk‘s wins (and couple minor pitfalls to note).
Here are detailed reviews of a few bestsellers worth considering:
Vintage Boujad Rugs
These 80-150 year old carpets woven by Berber grandmothers have a lived-in charm that instantly warms up any home. Abstract patterns in faded crimson, emerald and sapphire make vibrant folk art for walls.
Highlights: Beautiful imperfections, resonant colors, intricate textures
Considerations: Expensive due to rarity, delicate condition requires careful placement
As literal artifacts reflecting touches of generations past, well-preserved vintage Boujads connect us to Moroccan culture in an intimate way. I gifted one with my grandmother‘s birth year to display in our family beach cottage. It sparks so many conversations about purpose and legacy.
Starting Price: $1200
Modern Kilims
For fun boho vibes I adore Benisouk‘s graphic minimalist Kilim designs woven by Middle Atlas mountain tribes. The nuanced patterns painted in wild dye colors make stunning room accents.
Highlights: Customizable dimensions, vibrant dyes, lively modern patterns
Considerations: Wool material shows pet hair/dirt more visible
I purchased a blue 10 x 14 Kilim for our daughter‘s first apartment decor. The upbeat motifs and artistry elevate a basic dorm room to feel uniquely "hers" while tying to cultural roots.
Starting Price: $325
Custom Beni Ourain
For a recent bathroom remodel, I designed a custom muted grey and cream Beni Ourain rug. The plush monochromatic wool sets a soothing tone alongside marble textures.
Highlights: Super soft feel, ability to customize sizes and colors precisely
Considerations: Longer 3-4 week production time, no returns allowed on custom pieces
Working one-on-one with their workshop to craft my perfect vision rug was phenomenal. The zero-dye undyed wool quality exceeds competitors. I would order custom again in a heartbeat.
Price: $950 for 8 x 10 wool design
Jute Cotton Boucle
On a trip to my parent‘s lakehouse, I was gifted a handwoven Jute Boucle rug for their screened patio. The blended wool and cotton fibers create plush texture perfect for high traffic areas.
Highlights: Durable low maintenance material, reversible dual sides, ideal for outdoor and entryway spaces
Considerations: Lacks vivid dyes/patterns of wool rugs, still requires weather/dirt maintenance
After a year withstanding Northeast weather and muddy paws, this rug has endured beautifully. The earthy neutral palette works year-round. I would buy additional sizes to outfit their porches and patios fully!
Price: $175 for 5 x 7 reversible design
How Benisouk Compares to Other Retailers
Over the past two years furnishing a new home, I have explored various retailers hunting for that perfect exotic carpet. Here is insight on how Benisouk stands apart from key competitors:
| Brand | Design Originality | Ethical Sourcing | Lead Times | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benisouk | Highly curated regional styles not replicated elsewhere | Direct partnerships supporting over 780 underprivileged Moroccan artisans | 2-4 weeks average for handcrafted production | $250 – $4,000 |
| Anthropologie | Mainly mass-produced collections lacking cultural story | Generalized "from artisan communities" claims without transparency | 1-2 weeks shipping ready-made inventory | $100 – $3,000 |
| West Elm | Some unique patterns but leaning modern minimalist | Certified ethical factories but distant from supply chain | Immediate shipping from US warehouses | $70 – $1,700 |
| Wayfair | budget friendly but uninspired replicable designs | No ethical sourcing info provided | Shipping within 1 week from US inventories | $50 – $2,000 |
| The Citizenry | High-end handmade luxury, partners with 2-3 Moroccan coops | Certified ethical factories but less direct than Benisouk | Up to one month custom production | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Etsy Shops | Wide variety with some gems but must vet each small shop | Varies drastically, tend to lack supply chain visibility | Custom timelines fluctuate broadly | $200 – $4,000 |
Benisouk occupies a uniquely transparent niche – beyond big box production but more accessible than elite designers. Their intentional cultural preservation mission shows in unrivaled carpet beauty and ethical integrity.
After trying alternatives, I wholeheartedly recommend Benisouk as the ideal blend of quality, originality and social impact.
Tips for Choosing Your Dream Benisouk Rug
- Consider which regional weaving styles best match your aesthetic vision
- Measure the space carefully you want to furnish and visualize layout options
- Select natural fiber materials like wool and cotton for durability
- Contact Benisouk customer service with any questions to find your perfect fit!
Caring for Your Investment Over the Long Term
To understand best practices preserving delicate tribal carpets, I interviewed a fifth-generation Moroccan rug restorer named Amine. Here are his top care recommendations:
Regular Vacuuming: Use attachments and low suction to clear surface debris before it compresses into fibers. Always vacuum the top side first avoiding fringe.
Annual Professional Cleaning: Have carpets deep cleaned by specialists without harsh detergents at least once per year. Ask ahead what natural ingredients they use.
Rotate Every Few Years: Consider rotating the direction your rug faces in a room to evenly distribute sunlight exposure and foot traffic wear-and-tear over decades.
Protect Valuable Vintage: For rare century-old pieces or weakening antique fringes, display your rug in specialized glass museum cases allowing admiration without handling.
Respond Swiftly to Stains: Blot any liquid spills immediately then use mild soap and cold water transferred to the spot with soft towels. Let air dry fully before walking over the damp section.
With some basic care, Benisouk carpets become priceless heirlooms – their colors and memories only growing richer over time.
Final Verdict: Wholeheartedly Recommend with One Caveat
For shoppers seeking stunning carpets woven through centuries-old cultural wisdom directly empowering talented female artisans, Benisouk delivers a world-class experience on all fronts. They occupy a remarkably transparent niche celebrating the human stories behind treasured craft.
I will continue furnishing my home almost exclusively with their exquisite and morally gratifying carpets for years to come. From inviting vintage Boujads with generations of soul to custom designs exactly matching my wildest visions, Benisouk has won my loyalty through unparalleled artistry and care.
My sole note of caution relates to production timelines – with pieces intricately handmade start-to-finish, specially ordered rugs take a full month for weaving, washing, clipping and shipping logistics. For customers accustomed to mass manufacturer turnarounds, the wait can test patience.
But just like choosing an ethical slow-fashion brand versus fast fashion, or selecting farm-to-table over processed convenience meals, some principles deserve a bit of delayed gratification.
Great and meaningful things take time. But with Benisouk‘s delightful carpets gracing my home, I feel connected to the very soul of Morocco. That makes every day living within them worth the wait many times over.
