Saffron
A natural dye derived from the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus, producing warm yellows and golden ochres in Moroccan Amazigh weaving.
Saffron (za'afaran in Arabic) has been cultivated in Morocco, particularly in the Taliouine region of the Anti-Atlas, for centuries. The dried stigmas produce a water-soluble yellow-orange colourant that, depending on concentration and mordant, ranges from pale straw through warm honey yellow to deep golden ochre.
Saffron yellow is one of the signature palette elements of Haouz plain weaving, the warm golden quality of the best Haouz flatweaves comes from high-quality saffron applied at concentration. With age, saffron yellows tend to deepen and warm rather than fade toward white, producing the amber tones characteristic of well-preserved vintage Haouz pieces.
Because genuine saffron is expensive, it was often substituted in commercial production with cheaper yellow sources, pomegranate, weld, or synthetic yellow, which do not age the same way.
