Moroccan Kilim: The Flat-Woven Rugs of Morocco
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A Moroccan kilim is a flat-woven wool rug from Morocco. Kilim is a Turkish word, and it has become the shop name for any flat weave. In Morocco itself such a textile is more often called a hanbel. Moroccan flat weaves are less well known abroad than the country's pile rugs, and they differ in character from the kilims of Turkey and Iran: often finer, often striped, and frequently mixed with other techniques in the same piece. This page describes the main kinds, explains how they compare with pile rugs in use, and is clear that we ourselves sell pile rugs and not kilims.
What makes a Moroccan kilim different
A classic Anatolian kilim is built from blocks of colour, with small slits where two colours meet, and its designs are large and bold. Moroccan flat weaves more often use fine horizontal bands, with small geometric figures picked out in a second technique, so that the surface has a slight relief.
Many were made as blankets, cloaks, covers and tent furnishings as much as floor rugs, so they are light and supple. Reds, blacks and whites are common, with details in yellow, green or orange. Sequins and tufts of wool are sometimes added.
The main kinds
Hanbel is the general term for a flat-woven cover or rug. The Zemmour, a group of tribes between Rabat and Meknes, are known for red hanbels with rows of very fine geometric bands. From the Middle Atlas come flat weaves in black, white and red.
Zanafi describes the black and white banded weavings associated with the south, around Taznakht. In the High Atlas, Glaoua rugs combine flat weave, knotted pile and a wrapped, embroidery-like technique in one piece. The names overlap, and dealers use them loosely.
Moroccan kilim or Moroccan pile rug
The two do different jobs. A flat weave is thin, light and graphic. It suits a dining area, a hallway, a wall or a warm room, and it clears doors. It gives little cushioning and needs a non-slip pad.
A pile rug, such as a Beni Ourain or an Azilal, is thick, warm and soft, and belongs where people sit and walk barefoot. Pattern in a pile rug is looser and larger in scale. The two kinds were made side by side in the same regions, and they still complement each other in a house.
Buying and care
Look at both sides. A flat weave has no pile, and the design shows on the back, sometimes with loose threads where a supplementary pattern was worked. Check the ends and the edges for wear, since a thin textile frays there first. Ask what the fibre is: wool, cotton or a mix.
Vacuum gently with suction only, along the bands, and keep clear of fringes and any sequins. Shake small pieces outdoors. Blot spills with cold water. Do not machine-wash a wool flat weave. Use a thin, grippy pad, both for safety and to reduce wear.
What we hold
We do not stock Moroccan kilims or hanbels. Our collection is 275 hand-knotted pile rugs: 120 Azilal, 119 Beni Mrirt, twenty-two Beni Ourain, eleven Beni Mguild, two Boujaad and one vintage piece. The rugs shown on this page come from that collection.
For the graphic, banded look in a rug made to measure, our bespoke studio includes a Zanafi pattern in the size and colours you choose. Each rug is one of a kind, with its exact measurements on its own page. Delivery is free worldwide, duties and taxes included.
What you can verify about us
- Origin
- Made in MoroccoHand-knotted Berber rugs from the Atlas regions. Every rug is one of a kind.
- Construction
- Hand-knotted woolVerified at every stage — never machine-tufted.
- Delivery
- Duties includedFree shipping; import duties and taxes are included in the price.
- Returns
- 14 daysIn condition received, full refund of the purchase price.
Frequently Asked
Questions
- What is a Moroccan kilim called?
- Usually a hanbel. Kilim is the Turkish word that shops use for any flat weave.
- How is a Moroccan kilim different from a Turkish kilim?
- Moroccan flat weaves tend to use fine bands and small raised patterns. Turkish kilims use larger blocks of colour.
- Is a Moroccan kilim good for a dining room?
- Yes. It is thin, and chairs slide on it. Use a non-slip pad.
- Do you sell Moroccan kilims?
- No. We sell hand-knotted pile rugs. The bespoke studio includes a Zanafi pattern.
Sources & References
What this page rests on
- 1. Kilim Tradition Atlas
- 2. Moroccan Hanbel Documentation
The person behind the piece
“Before you buy, I’ll send you a video of the actual rug in natural light — not a stock photo. I answer the messages myself.”
I’m Youssef. I started ARINID because this market is full of middlemen and machine-made imitations sold as the real thing — and I grew up close enough to the looms to know the difference.
Every piece we list is one of a kind, hand-knotted in Morocco. If you want to talk through sizing for your room, I’m on the other end of the message. A rug at this level is a thirty-year decision. You should be able to look the person selling it to you in the eye.
Youssef
Founder, ARINID
The next step
See every rug we currently offer
Each piece is hand-knotted in Morocco and delivered to your door, with shipping, duties and taxes included.