Handiras y Haiks

A great woman's vintage shawl, cape or -handira- from the Berber group of the Beni or Aït Ouaraïn in the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool and cotton with natural dyes. It features the very distinctive striped decoration used by this group with typical geommetrical decorative motifs full of meanings and symbology. Fringed and with two straps to knot it round the chest. Lovey cream and camel colors. The Beni Ouaraïn are a confederation formed by about seventeen Berber groups inhabiting primarily the northeastern part of the Moroccan Middle Atlas mountain range. Among those tribes they may be cited the Aït Jelidassen, the Zerarda, the Aït Assou, the Ahl Telt, the Beni bou Zart or the Imrilen. The quality of the Beni Ouaraïn textiles has been acknowledged admired since long and to that have contributed the dexterity of their mainly women artisan weavers.

A great woman's shawl, cape or -handira- showing the arrangement of stripes and colours of the Berber tribe of the Aït Brahim belonging to the group of the Aït Haddidou, in the Moroccan High Atlas. Handwoven wool. Natural dyes. Check the lovely green!. It is used not only in festive gatherings but also daily as a garment to withstand the freezing winter temperatures in the Atlas. It is fastened with textile straps or with fibulae. If the woman is married then she would also combine it with a very distinctive pointed headgear. 1950´s-60's.

A great woman's vintage shawl, cape or -handira- from the Berber group of the Beni or Aït Ouaraïn in the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool and cotton with natural dyes. It features the very distinctive striped decoration used by this group with typical geommetrical decorative motifs full of meanings and symbology. Fringed and with two straps to knot it round the chest. Lovey cream and camel colors. The Beni Ouaraïn are a confederation formed by about seventeen Berber groups inhabiting primarily the northeastern part of the Moroccan Middle Atlas mountain range. Among those tribes they may be cited the Aït Jelidassen, the Zerarda, the Aït Assou, the Ahl Telt, the Beni bou Zart or the Imrilen. The quality of the Beni Ouaraïn textiles has been acknowledged admired since long and to that have contributed the dexterity of their mainly women artisan weavers.

A nice woman's vintage shawl, cape or -handira- from the Berber group of the Beni or Aït Ouaraïn in the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool and cotton with natural dyes. It features the very distinctive striped decoration used in this kind of garments and group. Fringed and with two straps to knot it round the chest. Lovey cream and camel colors. The Beni Ouaraïn are a confederation formed by about seventeen Berber groups inhabiting primarily the northeastern part of the Moroccan Middle Atlas mountain range. Among those tribes they may be cited the Aït Jelidassen, the Zerarda, the Aït Assou, the Ahl Telt, the Beni bou Zart or the Imrilen. The quality of the Beni Ouaraïn textiles has been acknowledged admired since long and to that have contributed the dexterity of their mainly women artisan weavers.

A lovely old Berber woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the group of the Aït Atta. It features the very characteristic distribution of stripes and colors of this group. The large confederation of the Aït Atta inhabits an extense area on the High Atlas from the Draa valley to the Ziz valley. Capes like this would be worn on special gatherings and ocassions by the women of the group and from some other neighbouring group as the Aït Hadiddou, fastened by silver fibula or brooches. This handmade handira has been woven in wool and it combines the use of natural dyes in a design that mixes the three traditional colors, red, black and green against a white or cream background and the combination of stripes of equal width in its central part. The traditional design is completed by a fringe bordering the side edges. This particular example comes from the area of Msemrir where the Aït Atta sub-group of the Aït Oussikis lives. A beautiful piece.    

A lovely Berber fringed -handira-, cape or shawl from M-Tougha in the Moroccan High Atlas mountain range. It is handwoven in natural undyed wool. The distribution of its black and white stripes yet simple is very apealling. This kind of pieces is usually used as blankets as well as outer garments to withstand the freezing nights in the High Atlas. 

A Berber fringed -handira-, cape or shawl from M'Tougha in the Moroccan High Atlas mountain range. It is handwoven in natural undyed wool. Cotton weft. The distribution of its black and white stripes yet simple is very apealling. This kind of pieces is usually used as blankets as well as outer garments to withstand the freezing nights in the High Atlas. 

A  woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the High Atlas, though the use of these capes has extended to some areas of the High Atlas as well. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool and cotton. It features very distinctive decorative stripes and long cotton fringes or pile. Distinctive sequins have been added. Nowadays it would be used during special gatherings and festivities where the women, dancing together, make a magical sound by ratling their jewellery and the sequins themselves!. 

A  woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the High Atlas, though the use of these capes has extended to some areas of the High Atlas as well. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool and cotton. It features very distinctive decorative stripes and long cotton fringes or pile. Distinctive sequins on cotton threads have been added. Nowadays it would be used during special gatherings and festivities where the women, dancing together, make a magical sound by ratling their jewellery and the sequins themselves!. 

An appealing woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the High Atlas, possibly from the Beni or Aït Mguild in the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco or from neighbouring groups, though the use of these capes has extended to some areas of the High Atlas as well. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool, silk and cotton. It features very distinctive decorative stripes and long cotton fringes or pile. Nowadays it would be used during special gatherings and festivities where the women, dancing together, make a magical sound by rattling their jewellery. 1960´s.

A beautiful woman's shawl, cape or -handira- showing the arrangement of stripes and colours of the Berber tribe of the Aït Brahim belonging to the group of the Aït Haddidou, in the Moroccan High Atlas. Handwoven wool. Natural dyes. It is used not only in festive gatherings but also daily as a garment to withstand the freezing winter temperatures in the Atlas. It is fastened with textile straps or with fibulae. If the woman is married then she would also combine it with a very distinctive pointed headgear. 1950´s.

A beautiful Berber haïk or shawl from the Moroccan High Atlas. Handmade. Woven natural undyed wool. The combination of browns and creams as well as the distribution of the stripes are exquisite and grant it a very elegant tribal character. A haïk or -tahraoukht-, is an outer garment used by the different Berber tribes as part of their attire. It may come in many sizes and the way to wear it can vary a lot depending on the area and the needs of the wearer, for example, as a cape or as a sort of veil to cover head and face. 1960's. 

A absolutely stunning woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the Berber group of the Beni or Aït Ouaraïn in the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool and cotton with natural dyes. It features very distinctive and rich striped decoration used by this group and the eaqually characteristic long fringe at the back. Nowadays it would be used during special gatherings and festivities. 1950.  

An appealing woman's shawl, cape or -handira- featuring the distinctive colours and stripes of one of the three fractions of the Berber tribe of the Aït Morrhad in the High Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Handwoven wool. Natural dyes. It is used to withstand the cold winter temperatures in the Atlas and during festive gatherings. 1950´s.