Berber Carpet History

Are you a fan of Berber carpets? I wouldn’t be surprised if you are, since Berber carpets have that unique and lovely look that everyone loves. Planting your feet in its warm and soft fibers can even make you want to lie down and sleep on it. The comfortable and calming feel can beautifully accentuate almost any room. But has it ever crossed your mind to know who made the first Berber carpet and why it has such a funny-sounding name?

It would amaze you to know that the use of Berber began way back in the Paleolithic Era, also known as the Stone Age. Yes, Berbers are that old! It was first used by a small tribe in northwestern Africa, which was called the Berbers, thus the origin of the name. Berbers were popular among traditional farmers and oasis dwellers during that time, and they didn’t use Berbers as carpets (although it would be nice to think of our Neanderthal ancestors decorating their caves with it); Berbers were used as clothing to shield them from the biting cold of the night as well as the sweltering heat of the day. Today, people who are descendants of the original Berber tribes who still practice authentic Berber traditions can be largely found in Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Libya.

Traditional Berber Carpets

The original Berber carpets were made from wool or camel hair that are weaved into varying levels of loops and typically contained less pile than other carpets. Berber carpet colors are mostly white, brown, and tan, just like the natural color of the material used. Today, because of the scarcity of these kinds of animal products, other materials are also used to be able to cater to the high demands for this type of carpeting.

Probably the best traditional Berber carpets today can be found in Morocco and Tunisia where original descendants of the Berber tribe are living. Berber carpets in the regions of the Barbary Coast contain approximately 250,000 knots per square meter… this must be the reason why Berber carpets are very soft and durable! Like the first Berbers, Tunisian Berber carpets are mostly made of wool and camel hair, although they also make carpets made from different materials like silk.

Modern Berber Carpets

As mentioned above, there was a scarcity of wool and camel hair for use as Berber carpets and so, manufacturers turned to other materials that are of similar quality and durability to wool and camel hair to produce Berber carpeting. The most commonly used synthetic materials of Berber carpets are nylon and olefin.

• Olefin

Olefin is a popular material for modern Berber carpets. It is resistant to mildew and moisture and is ideal to use in basements. It looks fairly identical to wool but is not as expensive. Olefin for Berber carpets are dyed first before it’s manufactured. The main disadvantage of olefin Berber carpet is that it tends to flatten easily and can fade especially if exposed to direct sunlight.

• Nylon

More popular than olefin, nylon Berber carpets are known for being the strongest and most durable material for Berber carpeting. It is easy to care for and is non-allergenic. Like olefin, it is also resistant to mildew and soil and is suitable for use in high traffic areas. The only major disadvantage of nylon Berber carpets is that it can pill and is also prone to static.

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