Fesi Embroidery and Tarz el Ghorza: Two Traditional Moroccan Embroidery Styles
Morocco is home to a rich and diverse culture, and its traditional embroidery is one of its most beautiful expressions. Two of the most popular Moroccan embroidery styles are Fesi embroidery and Tarz el Ghorza.
Fesi Embroidery
Fesi embroidery, also known as Tarz al Fassi, is a traditional style of embroidery from the city of Fez in Morocco. It is known for its intricate, geometric, and reversible designs. Fesi embroidery is typically done on a grand scale, with large tablecloths and napkins taking months to complete. However, in recent years, artisans have begun to create smaller items, such as handkerchiefs and coin purses, that are more marketable to tourists.
Tarz el Ghorza
Tarz el Ghorza is a traditional Moroccan style of counted-thread embroidery. It is practiced by Berber ladies in the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Tarz el Ghorza is a meticulous and time-consuming art form that involves carefully calculating the number of warp and weft yarns for each stitch in order to create symmetrical, uniform patterns. The stitches are so precise that they must be counted under a magnifying glass.
Similarities and Differences
Both Fesi embroidery and Tarz el Ghorza are traditional Moroccan embroidery styles that are known for their intricate designs. However, there are a few key differences between the two styles.
- Materials: Fesi embroidery is typically done on silk or cotton fabric, while Tarz el Ghorza is typically done on linen or wool fabric.
- Stitches: Fesi embroidery uses a variety of stitches, including the backstitch, the running stitch, and the chain stitch. Tarz el Ghorza uses a counted-thread stitch, which is a type of stitch that is counted and measured on a grid.
- Designs: Fesi embroidery designs are typically geometric or floral, while Tarz el Ghorza designs are typically geometric.
How to Support Moroccan Embroidery
If you are interested in supporting Moroccan embroidery, there are a number of things you can do:
Purchase Moroccan embroidered items from artisans in Morocco or from online retailers such as Moroccantastics.
Take a Moroccan embroidery class.
Spread the word about Moroccan embroidery and encourage others to support this unique and traditional art form.
By supporting Moroccan embroidery, you can help to keep this beautiful tradition alive for future generations.
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