“Bazar Mehdi” is a small business that specialises in vintage
and handmade tribal Moroccan rugs. The business was named after Hilana’s late
grandfather, Mehdi. Thanks to family expertise that spans over a century,
Moroccan-born Hilana was able to take this family tradition to Yorkshire where
she lives with her British husband. As of October, Bazar Mehdi started
displaying and selling its rugs in Fabrication.
The idea behind this business venture was to bridge the gap
between Bazar Mehdi and all Morocco and rug lovers across the world. The rugs
are all handmade, vintage, strictly tribal and one-off pieces. Sourced from
remote tribal areas of Morocco, each Bazar Mehdi rug is made by a single Berber
(native Moroccan ethnicity) woman, who after marriage and childbirth, starts
extensive work on a precious family heirloom. The rugs are imbued with
passion and history which makes them very special. Another quality that Berber
rugs possess that makes them stand out is their vitality and free spiritedness
that is lacking in urban rugs. They can be an eclectic mix of vibrant colours,
or a monochromatic work of art, loaded with symbols and meaning.
Always the history enthusiast, Hilana is a proud Moroccan Berber
who tries to shine a light on authentic Moroccan heritage and will always seek
to honour it in some way, from the ethical sourcing to the quality. Recently,
Bazar Mehdi has teamed up with a feminine cooperative in Morocco, and are
selling one of their lovely creations in Fabrication. All proceeds will be
going to the cooperative to help cover their work costs.
