Berber Carpet Definition

Origins

• The term "Berber carpet" comes from the clothing worn by a group of tribes originating in North Africa who now live mostly in Morocco, Algeria, Libya and Tunisia. The Berber people make carpets and wear woven cloaks from wool yarn. The cloaks and carpets have the same uneven loops of flecked yarn as the Berber carpets we recognize. The African tradition of making Berber cloaks and carpets is believed to go back to the Stone Age. The name Berber, which means barbarian, was given to the people by Europeans.

Carpet Loops

• Berber carpet is fashioned by weaving big, bulked-out, flecked yarns into loops, which range from small and precise to shaggy. The flecking gives the carpet visual interest. The loops in Berber carpet, which can be all one level or multileveled, create many of its most important characteristics. The loops make the carpet durable, provide softness and comfort, are resilient to crushing, add to its visual interest, hide vacuum marks and footprints, and make the carpet a better insulator. The loops can be sculpted or cut into basket weave, herringbone and ribbed patterns, or uniform across the surface.

Materials

• Today American Berber carpet is made of wool and a variety of other fibers including silk, nylon, olefin and PET, which is a material made of recycled plastic bottles. The term Berber refers to the weave of the carpet, not the material from which it is made. American Berber is machine-made. Nylon and wool Berbers are the best quality, easiest to clean and most long-wearing. Wool is a natural fiber that is resistant to the growth of bacteria. Olefin and PET carpets are less expensive than other materials, but they do not last as long and they are more difficult to keep clean. They are also likely to crush more easily and are not as comfortable underfoot.

Tunsian Berber

• Tunisian Berber carpet is made of wool, camel hair, silk and other natural fibers. Authentic Tunisian Berber carpets are hand-knotted with as many as 250,000 knots per square inch. They are finely detailed, will last for generations and are very expensive.

Buying Berber Carpet

• The most important factor to consider when buying Berber carpet is material. Wool and nylon Berber is much higher quality than olefin or PET. It will look better longer and last longer. Berber carpet comes in a huge range of colors and loop patterns, so you will probably be able to find what you want in any material.