Hanbel

The hanbel is a specific flatweave construction characterised by its weight and density: the weft is packed more tightly than in a standard kilim, producing a thicker, heavier textile that functions as both a floor rug and a domestic covering. Traditional hanbels were used as wedding blankets, bed covers, and wall hangings, their heaviness made them well-suited for warmth.

Hanbel construction often incorporates supplementary weft elements and may combine flatweave and pile sections within a single piece, producing a varied surface texture. The palette tends toward the warm and earthy, deep reds, ochres, and dark wool, reflecting the dye tradition of the producing communities.

The hanbel tradition is associated particularly with Amazigh communities of the High Atlas and the pre-Saharan south. Contemporary hanbels made for the export market are often lighter than traditional pieces, the weight that made them functional domestically is less valued in a market accustomed to floor use only.