Morocco is a country that put its stamp on the leather world, From the well-known “Morocco leather” or “Maroquinerie” to the ambitious luxury brands of nowadays, Morocco has created a great history of creativity, quality and concurrence.
“Morocco Leather”, the brand!
Morocco’s leather ( also known as Tafilalt leather) is a vegetable-tanned leather known for its softness, pliability, and ability to take colour. It has been widely used in the manufacture of gloves and the uppers of ladies’ shoes and men’s low-cut shoes, but is commonly associated with wallets, linings for fine luggage, and bookbinding.
The first known production of Morocco leather is attributed to the pre-11th century, in which alum-tanned Morocco leather was stained pink. In contrast, it was not common in England and more northern parts of Europe until the 17th century. Morocco leather is valued in Western countries for its use in luxury bookbindings because of its strength, and suppleness, and because it enhances any gilding.
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The tanneries of Fez “Dar Dbagha” :
Here we will talk in particular about Chouara tannery. Known as one of the most famous views in the country, this tannery won the hearts of travellers with its colourfulness despite the smell of raw leather. The Chouara Tannery is the busiest and largest tannery among the four historic tanneries of Fez. It is also the oldest tannery in the world. Operating in the medina, the tannery is home to leather produced from sheep, cows, goats, and other such animals. In Chouara, the skins are scraped, cured, stretched, and dyed in several honeycombed earth pits for 8 centuries!
The process of traditional tanning :
The process of tanning is quite complex and involves an array of steps:
- Obtaining the skin
- Curing
- Soaking
- Liming
- Scudding and Unhairing
- Bating and Deliming
- Pickling
Obtaining the skin involves killing and skinning the animal before heat leaves the tissues. Curing the animal with salt helps prevent the putrefaction of collagen and removes water from the hides. Soaking the hides in clean water removes leftover salt and enhances moisture. Liming involves blending skins and hides with lime to remove hair and other matter. Unhairing and scudding use agents like sodium sulfide to mechanically remove hair. They are bating and deliming lower collagen pH for enzyme treatment and softening. Pickling involves salt treatment and blending with sulfuric acid for mental tanning. This facilitates mineral tanning penetration.
The most precious leather product!
The Ziwani slippers are, next to the Red Fez hat, a symbol of Morocco. Shinning with its beautiful yellow colour made naturally by tanning the goat leather with Safran, the Ziwani slippers have been a sign of luxury for centuries. It’s named after Haj Ziwani, a shoe designer who specialized in creating that product and lived in Fez. One of the best qualities of these slippers is their flexibility and lightness next to their exquisite design.
New luxury brands :
Here we have for you two remarkable luxury brands that are 100% Moroccans:
Their family workshop was founded in 1962 in the heart of the city of Marrakesh ‘the medina’, by the founding father ‘Amaris’, it is part of the tradition of Moroccan leather goods.
Inspired by the culture of the red city, its architecture and the human values of its inhabitants, their know-how is passed on from father to son.
Amaris products are manufactured to this day with artisanal methods that implement all the processes and rules of the design of a luxury product. That’s why they use eco-friendly materials.
This brand is the result of a collaboration between several Marrakesh artisans who work with care and love.
Website: Leather goods Leather loves you (amarisleather.com)
This brand started from a personal need of its owner to an emerging brand that affords luxurious handmade bags. The story of this brand’s creation makes it focus on creating articles that meet the clients’ expectations and needs by paying attention to the details so these articles will make your daily life easier.
Website: Miratti – Moroccan luxurious leather bags and accessories (mirattibags.com)
