This post references publicly available feedback shared by a community member about their experience with our cooperative.
Cooperative Atma Collaborates on the Royal Tapestry Project:
On April 21st, Cooperative Atma welcomed a visit from Fair Fabrics and representatives from the Rotterdam Municipality to Aït Hamza village. The visit brought fabrics used in the 2023 King’s Day celebration in Rotterdam to the cooperative, where the female artisans of Cooperative Atma transformed them into handcrafted tapestries. These artisans employ the Moroccan upcycling patchwork technique known as “boucheriout,” combining sustainability with traditional craftsmanship. The resulting pieces reflect a cultural fusion between Dutch and Moroccan traditions. One tapestry will be displayed at the Rotterdam Municipality, while another will be housed in a Moroccan institution. During the visit, guests observed the artisans at work and learned about their contributions to preserving traditional handicrafts and promoting local development.
Source: Fair Fabrics & Cooperative Atma, April 21, 2023 – Read full story on social media
Royal Tapestry Project: Cross-Cultural Collaboration:
Cooperative Atma participated in the Royal Tapestry Project, a collaboration between Moroccan female artisans in the Atlas Mountains, Fair Fabrics, and partners in Rotterdam, including Rotterdam Make It Happen and Voorgoed Agency. The tapestry was made using recycled city decorations from ten years of King’s Day celebrations in Rotterdam. This project combined traditional Moroccan weaving skills with sustainable upcycling techniques, resulting in handcrafted pieces that reflect both Moroccan and Dutch cultural elements. One of the completed tapestries was presented to the Mayor of Rotterdam, highlighting the artisans’ contributions and the cooperative’s role in promoting craft, sustainability, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Sources: Rotterdam Make It Happen / Fair Fabrics / Koningsdag Rotterdam Instagram, 2023 – View original posts
Behind the Cooperative Atma: Women’s Weaving Collective in Ait Hamza
The Cooperative Atma, located in the High Atlas Mountains in the Fès-Meknès region of Morocco, is an all-women traditional weaving collective. Founded on the donation of a single plot of land, it has grown to include two workshops and over 60 members. The cooperative preserves weaving techniques that have been passed down through generations of women, while providing a structured organization to manage production and sales directly. Under the leadership of Fatima Falfouli, one of the original founders, Cooperative Atma aims to expand and support women in surrounding villages by offering meaningful work and a path to financial independence. The cooperative also serves as a training center, allowing members to refine their skills, create products, and maintain cultural heritage. Fatima emphasizes her commitment to the collective, sharing that her work is focused on supporting other women and ensuring the cooperative’s continued success.
Source: Erin Black Film, 2018 – Read full article
Social Media Highlights: Collaborative Artisan Work
The Boisselet Bevan Institute shared their experience collaborating with Fair Fabrics and Cooperative Atma in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. The post highlights the cooperative’s female artisans as they create handmade rugs, demonstrating the skills, organization, and craftsmanship involved in their work. This collaboration emphasizes the cooperative’s commitment to providing meaningful work for women in the region, preserving traditional weaving techniques, and producing, handcrafted products.
Source: The Boisselet Bevan Institute, Instagram – View original post
Press Coverage: Our Cooperative Featured by Le Matin
The Cooperative Atma, located in the village of Ait Hamza in the province of Boulemane, was created to preserve and promote traditional hanbel weaving. Since its founding in 2003, the cooperative has brought together local women to provide them with a stable source of income and greater economic independence. Members of Cooperative Atma produce a variety of handmade products, including hanbels, table linens, djellabas, and accessories. The cooperative has benefited from technical and financial support from organizations such as the UNIDO and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, helping women improve design of their products. The cooperative also serves as a training center for young women in the region, passing on traditional weaving skills and introducing innovative techniques.
Source: Le Matin, June 28, 2011 – Read full article