Morocco’s Marrakech — This fall marked a year since we inaugurated our Marrakech atelier. We created our atelier in order to broaden our handmade product offerings beyond clothing and footwear to include accessories and home items. We were aware that in order to do this, we would need to find fresh, environmentally friendly textiles that our production team could use to create well-made products.
We came upon a cloth on one of our visits that made us happy right away. Its hues and texture piqued our interest. Beyond just being beautiful, it aroused our interest. We were curious about what it was, what it was named, how and where it was created, and most importantly, how we could use it for something else as we held and felt it.
Continue reading to learn more about Cactus silk and how our atelier transforms it into a line of unique home decor and accessories.
The agave family includes vegetable silks like cactus silk and Sabra silk. It is a natural silk made from Saharan aloe vera plants that are gathered in northern Morocco. The Saharan desert is where these plants are most frequently found.
After being extracted from the plants, the silk fibers are hand-spun after being cleansed, coloured, and dried. The Atlas Mountain area’s Berber Tribe traditionally hand-weaves the threads together. This technique takes time and is delicate. In addition to the agave plant fibers, various natural textiles such as chenille, cotton and yarn, and camel wool are combined throughout the hand-weaving process.
Weavers frequently add free-hand embroidery work to each fabric in addition to dying the threads with natural dyes, drawing inspiration from both their moods and ideas as well as classic geometric patterns from Morocco. The end effect is a colorful, lovely finish that has affection weaved throughout every cloth. Each piece of fabric can become unique thanks to the dying and embroidery techniques.
We upcycle Cactus silk in our Marrakech atelier to create our ranges of one-of-a-kind pillowcases, totes, and clutches.
What is used to make cactus silk pillows?
You may not be familiar with Cactus Silk, so allow us to explain what it is and how it is used to make the fabric for our covers. Cactus Silk is a unique fabric that is made particularly for us by Moroccan artists.
Sabra Silk is another name for this amazing fabric, Cactus Silk. The Saharan Aloe Vera or Agave Cacti fibers are woven into the fabric by hand to provide a textile with a distinctively smooth feel.
The technique utilized produces a cloth that is extremely durable and skillful but also incredibly strong.
The Agave Cacti’s leaves are pounded and then soaked to spread the fibers before being naturally colored with vegetable dyes.
This method yields a beautiful, durable, and vegetarian fabric that is also robust and sustainable. The fabric is then prepared to be manually spun into a fine thread using conventional techniques without the use of chemicals, which is a process that takes a lot of skill.
The gorgeous Cactus Silk cushion covers are then dyed in the colors we’re known for. They don’t contain any artificial components, and the color isn’t fixed with chemicals. Finally, a second wash provides the fabric a softer texture, and the covers are finished with gorgeous, detailed, hand-stitched embroidery, making each one unique and requiring a high level of skill.
Did you know that Moroccan rooftops are used to naturally fade and dry out cushion covers for at least two to four weeks? It takes a lot of time and endurance. As a result, they have perfectly faded out.
On our website, you’ll discover a beautiful selection of covers in a variety of colors and sizes. Cushions in white, pale pink, eucalyptus, pale tan, deep tan, and coco will look and feel amazing in your house no matter the décor. They remind us of a sunset, so to speak. We occasionally add color variations like blues and greens to our color palette as well.
The sizes that are offered are as follows: 45 x 45 cm for square cushions, 95 x 50 cm for lumbar cushions, 60 x 60 cm for European pillows, and 45 x 60 cm for Mini Lumbar cushions. We offer excellent duck-down inners for your cushions, but you can also use your own if you wish. We always advise using fillers that are around 5 cm larger than your cover because this will maintain the cushions “plump” and comfy.
Can cactus silk be washed?
Use a moist, somewhat soapy towel to remove the stain. Don’t wash in a machine. If necessary, have a professional dry cleaner do it (please check with your dry cleaner first). Avoid tumble drying. On low heat, you may iron. To let garments dry in the sun, hang them up.
Please be aware that hand-dying results in certain defects (small blotches, bleeding etc). This gives the pillow cover more personality and charm.
Each cushion is unique because the cloth was hand-dyed. Your pillow’s pattern can differ slightly.
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Cactus fabric: what is it?
- Responsible Manufacturing
- Fabric
I enjoy learning about different fibers, so when I heard about Vegetarian Silk from a Cactus lately, I was eager to learn more. I’ve done a ton of research on the issue and am happy to share it with you. You probably already want to learn more about it because it is a wonderful silk substitute that is vegetarian, has an excellent sheen, and is incredibly soft to the touch.
Almost exactly what it sounds like, cactus silk is manufactured from a cactus. (More to follow on this.) It is a pricey cloth created from the Saharan Aloe Vera Cactus, often known as Vegetable or Sabra Silk (part of the Agave family). It’s possible that you are already familiar with it if you have ever taken a vacation to Morocco. The fabric is hand-loomed in Morocco, while the cactus is grown in the Sahara Desert. Marrakech markets are frequently embellished with lovely metallic goods.
What are pillows made of cactus silk?
These lovely and distinctive Moroccan pillows are created from the agave plant, hand loomed, and embroidered with Berber symbols, making each cactus silk cushion unique. Cactus silk cushions are handmade in Morocco by expert artisans. These Moroccan pillows are available in a range of colors and have been sun-faded to provide distinctive tones. Browse through our selection of cactus silk pillows; we are confident you will discover one in a color you adore. But act quickly—these gorgeous items sell out quickly!
A sabra cushion is what?
Set matchy-matchy aside. No two of our Sabra Pillows are exactly the same, and we like it that way. These decorative pillows are constructed from one-of-a-kind Sabra Kilim rugs that were imported from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. These lightweight textiles are made by talented Berber tribeswomen from hand-spun cactus silk, vegetable-dyed in a variety of colors, and embellished with traditional hand-stitched geometric forms that stand for protection, family, fertility, and love. Each one is finished with complementing piping, matching tassels, and zipper closures. Each one is stuffed with soft down and feather inserts. Choose from soft, delicate neutrals, brilliant, colorful colors, or mix and match a couple for an eclectic, worldly feel that is perfect for giving a boho-chic touch to any area.
Moroccan Agave – Flowering Season
There are agave plants all over Morocco, and its most famous byproduct is “cactus silk,” which is used to make fabrics. The plants are currently in bloom, making a trip to the countryside to view the hillsides covered in a sea of golden blooms worthwhile.
Some members of the same family may take decades before blossoming, and the Agave only blooms once before it dies. For instance, the Parry Agave doesn’t bloom until 25 years have passed. They’re known as the “Century Plant” in several regions of the world.
Although frequently referred to as a “agave cactus,” this description is false. These plants are perennials, not cacti. The genus is classified in the broadly defined family Asparagaceae’s subfamily Agavoideae. The “Asparagaceae” tag makes sense when you look at the enormous flower spikes.
In addition to making fiber, the plant serves numerous additional purposes. It is valued by architects as a plant for landscaping and is used to make skin creams and nectar. Additionally, given the volume of bee activity, it must create an intriguing, albeit uncommon, honey.
Are Moroccan rugs challenging to maintain?
You should be even kinder because the shaggy Boucherouite carpets have a higher pile. You can spot-treat by following the directions above. Once a year, follow the same deep-cleaning techniques described above while using a mild detergent. Before drying, give it a thorough rinse to remove any soap residue.
A Berber rug may be washed in a washing machine.
Before shipping, every rug is expertly cleaned in Canada. A Moroccan rug is quite durable. You will treasure this investment piece for a very long time. Please adhere to these easy instructions to properly care for your rug.
Cleaning your rug: Hire a specialist rug cleaner for the best results. Professional cleaning ought to run between $1 and $2 per square foot.
You can rinse it off with your garden hose after hand-washing it in cold water with laundry soap. Once it has completely dried in the sun, reposition it on the floor making sure it is no longer damp or humid.
You can wash it if you have access to a commercial washer. Use a gentle cycle and cold water. Keep it moving in your machine so the colors don’t run. Let the sun dry it.
What is the lifespan of cactus leather?
Some people might find the thought of a bag made of cactus a bit absurd, but two entrepreneurs, Marte Czarez and Adrin Lpez Velarde, have developed and successfully shown their vegan leather material at the International Leather Fair Lineapelle 2019. Those in attendance at the exhibition last month in Milan, Italy, were interested in the cactus-made substitute for animal leather. The high resistant vegan cactus leather, known as Desserto, has the kind of blueprint that will appeal to the fashion, interior design, and automotive industries.
Getting To Know The Cruelty-free and Cost-competitive Leather
It took Mexican researchers Adrin Lpez Velarde and Marte Czarez two years of work and research with the aid of technologies and inventions before they were ready to showcase a usable product at the Milan tradeshow. The flexibility, adaptability, and breathability of cactus leather, which has a lifespan of about 10 years, are similar to those of leather made from animals or synthetic materials. Earth-friendly qualities such being partially biodegradable and lacking hazardous chemicals, phthalates, and PVC round out the features.
The material was created and manufactured to fulfill the most exacting standards from the Aeronautic to the Fashion industries. It is also cruelty-free and reasonably priced. The biggest challenge we have faced is figuring out how to make our materials accessible for small and medium-sized businesses because sometimes minimum purchase quantities are a barrier for them, the creators of the sustainable alternative told FashionUnited (UK) when asked about the difficulties they faced producing the product. Because of this, we constantly strive to maintain an inventory so customers can purchase items in modest amounts. We are also in contact with possible suppliers that could make our supplies accessible to everyone.
Regarding the advantages that cactus leather offers, Velarde and Czarez told FashionUnited (UK): “The advantages for the environment that our materials can have if incorporated into major production lines of the different industries mentioned before may result in a reduction of 32 to 42 percent in plastic waste, depending on the version of our materials that are incorporated, and a reduction of about 20 percent in water consumption.
The garment sector alone currently uses a staggering amount of volume—nearly 79 billion cubic meters—enough to fill approximately 32 million Olympic-size swimming pools. The value of the additional 39 billion cubic meters predicted to be used annually by 2030 is estimated to be worth 32 billion euros to the global economy. If the fashion sector can develop ways to stop water use from rising further, this could be advantageous for the global economy.
It appears that Velarde and Czarez’s determination to start Desserto at a time when the fashion industry is open to having a conversation may have something to do with their determination to be the company that does things a little differently as end users continue to demand that their products be made of environmentally friendly materials.