Moroccan belts are not just decorative items; they also possess cultural symbolism. They are often associated with traditional clothing, such as djellabas (robes), caftans, takshitas or other traditional dresses. Wearing a Moroccan belt adds a touch of elegance and cultural identity to the overall outfit. While it’s really hard to find a vintage jewelry shop in Morocco, you can still get authentic pieces in historical cities like Marrakech, Fez, Tangier, and Chefchaouen. Where to buy jewelry in Morocco (real vs fake) Whether you’re shopping in the Souks of ancient Medinas or you’re browsing online, finding antique Moroccan jewelry will prove to be a daunting task.

It could be dainty or it could be a heavier version such as the Fassi Khalkhal, which is almost like a cuff, engraved using different floral shapes and featuring a silver chain that makes it into a double layer anklet Silver Bracelets The southern jewelry in Morocco usually consists of varying blends of silver and bronze ornamented with geometric or floral shapes and patterns. Most Moroccan women have inherited those accessories from their mothers and grandmothers, so parting with them verges on the impossible due to how much sentimental value they hold.

In Morocco, women can design their kaftans from scratch with the help of a tailor, which I did many times – and loved doing. The process takes a little longer, but the result is literally the dress of your dreams! For instance, women wear a fibula as a brooch to decorate a dress or as an accent piece on their hair. When it comes to colors, there are really no rules. Moroccan kaftan dresses can be in either pastel, dark or flashy colors, or even a mix of the three. The Khalkhal is another jewelry piece heavily inspired by the Arab, Andalusian, and Ottoman influence. This accessory is an ankle bracelet, or anklet, typically made from gold, silver, or an amalgam of both materials.

The fibula is one of the most prominent symbols, it consists of a silver triangle, often engraved or decorated with colorful stones, and used to hold together an outer layer or as an ornamental piece. The Khamsa, the Eye of Fatima, or the Hand of Fatima is a symbol of Moroccan-Jewish descent that represents a hand with the power of warding off evil and protecting the wearer from negative energy.Moroccan Kaftans are usually worn with high heels and accessorized with a clutch bag and/or a few jewelry pieces, either discrete or dramatic. Because this is such a ubiquitous part of Moroccan heritage, you will find that most Moroccan women own at least a couple of accessories featuring this beautiful and unique symbol. Antique Moroccan Jewelry The caftan can sometimes be accompanied by a belt ( m’damma) made of finely chiseled solid gold and encrusted with a flower named fakrone– or turtle – in the center that is supposed to bring happiness and protect the wear from the evil eye.

My first relationship with a Moroccan kaftan – also spelled caftan – was through embroidery at my aunt’s kaftan atelier. She was a kaftan fairy and I spent countless hours in her atelier learning beading and embroidery. I was fascinated by the intricate artwork involved in making a kaftan dress, and my fascination grew bigger with time as I learned more about the richness of this Moroccan garb. Traditionally, the Khalkhal featured several charms and talismans, mainly the khamsa or hand of Fatima, as well as a depiction of the evil eye. Moroccan Princess Lalla Meryem and her beautiful daughter, Lalla Soukaïna, wore stunning kaftan dresses at the religious wedding of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco.

Moroccan leather belts

Essentially, a Moroccan belt or mdamma a handmade, culturally significant accessory that epitomizes Morocco's artistic heritage. It combines aesthetics with functionality and serves as a symbolic and practical addition to traditional clothing.

If you are looking for an artisanal piece that is both handmade and hand-embroidered, I have detailed where in my Morocco shopping guide. The best approach is to shop for your caftan directly from a respected traditional Moroccan tailor who will customize an existing piece or create one from scratch. Moreover, we can see how Berber and Tuareg traditions interlaced in the jewelry they produced, a fusion of two powerful and vigorous legacies. In Tafraoute, Tiznit, and Inezgane, you can find antique Moroccan jewelry on display, with some rare occasions of stumbling into unique pieces that qualify as rare pieces of art. Moreover, Taroudant is also worth a visit if you’re on the hunt for authentic traditional jewelry. There is another Ensemble Artisanal in Marrakech too, and it’s a good starting point to explore local markets and what they have to offer.If you don’t know me yet, I have spent the last couple of years researching traditional Moroccan clothing in every region of Morocco while helping hundreds of women create their caftan dream pieces. If you have any questions about the process of creating a traditional kaftan dress, reach out to me here. I’m always happy to help. You can also visit the Ensemble Artisanal in Tiznit before venturing into the Souk to get a better idea of what’s available, the different styles and designs, as well as the price points. A kaftan is a long one-piece dress embellished with elaborate ornamentation techniques passed down from generations of maalems, the kaftan artisans. The dress is trimmed with sfifa, a Fez-made silk braid, and closed with a row of cherry-shaped buttons named aakad, made in the city of Sefrou, home to the annual cherry festival. If a price seems too good to be true, then it probably is. You can also factor in the weight of each piece, whether it feels flimsy or well-made, the look of the stones, are they too shiny or too dim. Based on how wealthy her family is and the social status of her husband-to-be, the mdama could be made from pure gold, featuring different engravings, and ornamented with a variety of stones (mostly red and green).