Zanafi

The Zanafi is one of the most structurally distinctive Moroccan flatweaves: horizontal stripes of varying width and colour run the full width of the textile, creating a composition that is almost entirely about rhythm and palette rather than geometric pattern. The stripes are typically broad, the wool is thick and well-spun, and the palette draws on the mineral and vegetable dye tradition of the south, ochres, rusts, deep terracottas, ivory, and occasional indigo accents.

Zanafi production is centred around Taznakhte, a small market town in the Draa valley south of Ouarzazate that functions as a regional hub for weavers from surrounding villages and the High Atlas foothills. The Taznakhte cooperative network is among the most organised in Morocco, weavers bring finished pieces to the weekly market, where they are bought by wholesale buyers, exporters, and occasionally direct customers.

The Zanafi stripe composition is not purely aesthetic, it is the natural output of a horizontal loom where each row of weft is a discrete colour decision. The most accomplished Zanafi weavers manage the stripe composition with a precision that makes the finished piece feel designed rather than accumulated, even though the construction process is purely incremental.