I was recently asked to share the story behind our cute bath mats and more about how Baba Souk came to life, so I thought I’d share here too.

What’s the story behind your business? Why did you start your shop? Where do you find inspiration?

It was in the Spring of 2010! I found myself in the middle of the amazing Marrakech souk market, and I was completely head over heels. I was meeting my husband’s family for the first time; it was a stressful and yet completely amazing first experience in Morocco. At that time, I had the job most girls would dream of having. I was designing womenswear and traveling around the world in search of new trends for a big box fashion company. I had been really enjoying that job for 6 years, but something inside of me did not feel right. Despite everyone telling me I was crazy to walk away from that job, I needed more creativity, I needed more challenges, and I was tired of the throw-away fast fashion culture.

The Marrakech souk market was such a contrast with my world of fast fashion – made in China, the fast pace, the fast turnover of the products I was sketching. I was flabbergasted with the beauty of Moroccan handmade crafts. The amazing handmade skills required, the hand weaving, the textures, the amazing colors were so magical and appealing to me and such a contrast with our American throw-away culture. I had absolutely no plans to turn my visit to the souk into a business; all I knew was that I wanted to bring back EVERYTHING I saw for my own apartment. So there I was, completely ecstatic in the middle of the souk market, showing my Marrakchi boyfriend everything we needed to bring back – 1 or even 3 rugs, a few Moroccan poufs, a bunch of cactus silk pillows… And every time I pointed something out to him, he would say, “Don’t buy this here honey, I know the artisans who make them and I prefer encouraging them directly.” This is where my collaboration with Moroccan artisans began.

That’s when I thought to myself: “If I love these handmade crafts so much, I’m sure lots of people would love them just as much as me.” I had a Bachelor’s degree in graphic design and was pretty much fearless (and let’s be honest, very, VERY naïve). So there I was, already dreaming of selling all these beauties online.

I’ve always been into treasure hunting, finding the most beautiful pieces in a store, a market, at a fair, and on the web. I like to think I am a beauty hunter. The Moroccan souks are the perfect playground for me; sourcing among tons of handmade pieces makes me happy. My favorite game is to find the most amazing ones and also create new products, incorporating my own bright and pink aesthetic while working in collaboration with a team of artisans through the tight relationships I nurtured over the years.

What about your cute bath mats? Tell us a little about the creation of this exclusive product.

With my graphic design skills and my background in fashion, I was able to design this bath mat after realizing I would never be able to create more than one of the same rug in Morocco. I had been trying for years and insisting our Moroccan artisan team try to make several items of the same rug, to follow my sketches and make sure to place each color in the right place. Despite trying at least 100 times, it would always be a fail. The rugs would never be exactly the same. Then I realized I needed to create my own design and find a small workshop in India to have it made in more than one copy! I really wanted to keep all my production in Morocco, but I had to open my mind because it was just not working. Everything is handmade in Morocco, and they just don’t have the tools needed to duplicate a product in several copies.

I knew I had to keep my values aligned. I had to find a small workshop and make sure it was a fair trade product manufactured in honest conditions. I searched high and low for the perfect manufacturer.

Of course, the product is inspired by Moroccan rugs and infused with my own aesthetic. I like to say it’s a combination of Moroccan style with a Canadian twist! They don’t manufacture bath mats or water-absorbent rugs in Morocco, and so I felt like I was creating something new.

How does your personal or cultural identity inspire your shop or the items you make?

I am a Canadian woman married to a Moroccan, and we have two young boys together. I feel like my products represent this love. The love for handmade Moroccan artisanal products merges with a more modern, northern aesthetic. I love to blend these influences and create something I call Baba Souk. My brand is a fusion of two cultures. Through my ongoing work with a team of Moroccan artisans and the creation of my own line of rugs, I believe (I hope!) I’ve been able to bring a fresh twist to Moroccan designs.

-Stephanie