How to recognize a Beni Ourain
A genuine Beni Ourain is hand‑knotted by Berber weavers in the Middle Atlas from undyed ivory sheep's wool, with a thick, shaggy pile 1 to 2 inches deep and a sparse lattice or diamond design in natural dark brown or black wool. The foundation is wool, the ends usually finished with a braided or fringed edge, and the sizes are generous. Reproductions from India ("Moroccan style" hand‑knotted or tufted wool) and machine‑made polypropylene shags from big‑box stores look similar from across the room and are cleaned well but handled differently.
We collect Beni Ourains from Huntington, Northport, Cold Spring Harbor, Roslyn, Manhasset, Port Washington, Garden City, Rockville Centre, Long Beach, Merrick and Massapequa, and from beach houses in Westhampton, Southampton, Sag Harbor, East Hampton and Montauk, where they collect sand by the pound.
- Origin
- Middle Atlas, Morocco
- Knot
- Symmetric, coarse
- Pile
- Undyed ivory wool, 1–2 in
- Foundation
- Wool
- Dyes
- None on the ivory; natural dark wool for the design
- Our method
- UV check → double dusting → cold wash with non‑bleach brightener → extra rinse → centrifuge → slow groomed flat dry
