Making our own leather bags today at the women’s cooperative made me truly realize the level of hard work put into this intense craft. From the painful hole pinching to the intricate stitching where I poked my fingers multiple times, creating my own work made me genuinely appreciative of the skill it takes to be an artisan. The cooperative highlights the importance of the artisans’ unique skills, much like what the Anou cooperative does as well. Both organizations emphasize the need to give back to and to support the artisan community rather than just gaining profits. They aim to help other artisans stand on their own and make an actual, survivable living off of their craft.
Yesterday, we were able to explore the souks of Marrakech, mainly defined by their bargaining and negotiation culture. It’s normal to bargain for lower prices for any product sold in the souks, and most of the actual craft behind the good goes completely unnoticed. There is a rush for shoppers who eagerly fight for the cheap price they want while hard working artisans often agree to prices that aren’t fair or profitable for them. In contrast, the women’s cooperative follows a more organized selling format, with prices more precisely set. The sellers focus on emphasizing the story behind the product and the unique craft that was put into it, allowing buyers to actually pay for the authentic work rather than just a random product they liked.
While I definitely enjoy getting products for cheap prices in the souks, I prefer the women’s cooperative structured model because you feel like you’re investing into something truly meaningful. Rather than just buying a leather bag from the souks that is sold at several different stalls, you’re buying a bag and the story behind the artisan who put their blood, sweat, and tears into its making. This is significantly more meaningful, and I love the idea of being able to look back on the artisan story every time I use one of their bags.
After learning about the women cooperatives works and making our bags, we had a delicious Moroccan lunch and traveled back to Rabat. While very short, our time in Marrakech was eventful and eye-opening. I’m so happy to be back with my host family and to spend the last few days of this wonderful journey with them. One more week to go!
