Conversations In Colour | Shades Of Morocco exhibition - 2020 (6 new items)
Turmeric, saffron and sandy hues meet clay, dusty rose and the softest shell pink in Souad Larusi’s installation of vintage tribal rugs and textiles, which is inspired by the colours of her native Morocco.
The Installation
A longing for the warmth and vibrancy of her home country inspired her to curate this one-off edit of her collection, which embodies the Larusi founder’s layered and tonal approach to colour.
The Palette
The idea came from the deep-yellow hues of one of Souad’s favourite rugs from the Azilal region in the Middle Atlas Mountains, which has been part of her personal collection for 15 years.‘I wanted to share its beauty with people,’ she says. ‘So I used this rug as the starting point and built the palette around it, adding in earthy pinks and deep rose tones, as well as ecru, sandy browns and darker accents.’
‘For me, the installation evokes the south of Morocco: the colours and textures, the climate, the kasbah and the landscape,’ says Souad, who has an expert eye for colour as well as handcrafted textiles. ‘The shades I’ve chosen are rich and complex, and yet so easy to live with. And, when natural dyes are used, the pieces fade and wear so beautifully.’
Exhibition curated and designed by Alex Kristal. Photography by Kristy Noble.
Press coverage of the exhibition:
Reasons to choose vintage
Why choose vintage?
If like me you have a love of stories and of authenticity then vintage is the way to go. I personally find that vintage pieces often have more soul - their individuality shines through as they bear the personality and mark of their maker. They are made with intuition, un-designed and created from the heart. There’s an honesty and an integrity that I find missing in most modern copies. And, of course, you can be guaranteed that you have a unique piece - no going into another person’s house and finding they have exactly the same thing! Another reason for choosing vintage, and an increasingly important one, is its sustainable credentials. At Larusi, with over two decades of experience, I'm discovering a rug and then finding a new home for it with no mass-production line. I love rescuing beautiful rugs, carefully washing them without the use of chemicals and skilfully restoring them using wool sourced from local Berber markets. By buying a Larusi vintage rug you are giving new life to a handwoven rug that was made to last and, each time you choose vintage, you’re making a positive impact on the environment and everyone’s future. Be aware that most modern rug production from Morocco now comes from ‘co-operatives’ and commercial workshops that are profit driven. So, for example, Beni Ourain style rugs are now being produced either by machine or by non Beni Ourain weavers who rely on copying patterns, may use inferior non Berber wool and perhaps different, quicker knotting techniques. Local weaving families use natural soap to wash their rugs but these set ups may also use chemicals which pollute the rivers and affect the vegetation and animals.
Read more:
Elle Decoration - June 2017

Tom Ford
"Dear Souad, Thank you for the beautiful samples of the rugs for Santa Fe”
— TOM FORD
New English Interiors - Larusi rug for Designers Guild's Mark Homewood
A boucherouite rag rug takes centre stage in Designers Guild's Mark Homewood's 16c farm house.
New English Interiors by Elizabeth Metcalfe.
Photography: Dean Hearne.