Made by Afous: Walking the Weft of Morocco
Some places change you. For Daniela Gallenti, that place was Morocco. “It was love at first sight,” she says, recalling her first visit in 2014. “It touched my heart in ways I hadn’t imagined.” What began with a few vintage rugs carried home in a suitcase has since become Made by Afous - a thoughtful, ever-evolving collaboration with Berber artisans rooted in trust, shared purpose, and a reverence for handcraft.
Meaning "hand" in Berber, Afous stands for everything Gallenti values: humanity, cooperation, and craftsmanship. Raised in Sicily and always a curious traveller, Gallenti’s path took her across Yemen, Egypt, and Argentina before Morocco cast its spell. “The colours, the symbols woven into cloth since prehistoric times, the spontaneity of the designs - they all fascinated me,” she says. Over time, what began as collecting became a deep and mutual connection with the weavers themselves. “I usually travel alone,” she adds. “It opens you up. People are more inclined to welcome you in, to share their world.”
Berber rug, available from Made by Afous.
Gallenti primarily works with the Aït Ouaouzguite tribe in the Siroua Mountains, where women have passed weaving skills from mother to daughter for generations. These remote regions - nestled between the High and Anti-Atlas ranges - produce rugs alive with symbolism and spirit. Woven on vertical looms, Berber rugs evolve instinctively, without sketches or rigid plans. “The weavers don’t see the finished part of the rug as they work as they’re creating from memory, from intuition,” Gallenti explains. “That’s what gives these rugs their visual energy.”
Berber rug, available from Made by Afous.
Today, Made by Afous offers both vintage finds and original designs created in collaboration with these artisans. Gallenti’s eye is instinctive, refined over years of sourcing in Marrakech’s souks and mountain villages. Her favourite discoveries often come from friendships rather than dealers. These are relationships built over time, based on respect and transparency. “I buy what I love. But I also have to think about whether someone else will feel the same magic.”
Gallenti’s passion now extends to sharing this world with others. In partnership with Nataliya Cummings of Experience Ukraine, she’s launched immersive textile tours to the Siroua Mountains, where travellers will stay with artisan families, observe the weaving process firsthand, and witness how tradition lives on in every knot and thread. “It’s about slowing down and being part of the rhythm of the place,” she says.
Berber rug - a Made by Afous prize available in 'Win Win Win', Selvedge Issue 125
This issue, Selvedge is delighted to offer readers the chance to win a one-of-a-kind Berber rug from Made by Afous. Woven by artisans from the Aït Ouaouzguite tribe using undyed, handspun wool, this contemporary piece features a bold geometric design, rich cream and brown tones, and a shaggy high-pile texture. Reversible for warmer months, and worth £440 - it’s a tactile testament to living tradition and the hands that keep it alive.
-
Further Information:
Read more about Made by Afous in an interview with Daniela Gallenti, featured in Selvedge Issue 125, Mediterranean.
-
Image Credits:
All images courtesy of Daniela Gallenti, Made by Afous.