The Story
Salut!
We are Saâd and Aki, second generation children of the North African diaspora, and our mission is to show the connection between our cultures.
The connection between North African culture and Europe is reflected in the creative expressions of Amazigh women and the avant-garde artists of the West. These nameless weavers, who are often overshadowed, have had a significant influence on modern Western art. Their engagement with the Islamic-influenced culture of North Africa and the carpets of Morocco led to a revolution in the use of radical abstraction, color and form. This profound influence can be seen in the work of artists such as Le Corbusier, Klee, Kandinsky and contemporary figures such as Mark Rothko and Cy Twombly.
It is a matter close to our hearts to pay tribute to these nameless artists. The “Zarbiya” collection is our tribute to their handmade works of art, which are often mistakenly referred to as “Berber rugs”. We want to preserve their authenticity by returning these rugs to their original name, as used by the weavers themselves. “Zarbiya” (زربية, zɛʁ.bja) is not only an act of appreciation, but also a tribute to our grandmothers from Tunisia, who passed on their knowledge and skills for generations. By linking the past and the present, we want to pay tribute to the invisible masterpieces of North African art.
This initiative comes at a time when the rug industry is increasingly driven by the demand for specific designs and mass-produced items, threatening the originality and unique creativity of genuine Amazigh weaving. We want to revive the essence of traditional Amazigh weaving and honor the heritage of these tribes whose profound influence has inspired countless artists in Europe and the US. Through Zarbiya, we bring stories, history and a fragment of our heritage into your home.
Our aim is to preserve cultural heritage and support women artists and their communities. For every carpet sold, we donate 2.5% of the profit to the region of origin, in accordance with the traditional redistribution of Zakat. In this way, you contribute to the preservation of the unique Amazigh carpet art.
Join us on this beautiful adventure as we bring the vibrant, complex and rich Amazigh heritage into your home. Inspired by the research of art historian Jürgen Adam, we have found the courage to speak openly about these issues. Every time we visit the old medina, we feel how Instagram and mass tourism are displacing authentic carpet culture.
“Moroccan carpets and the art of modernity” – Jürgen Adam
Let’s work together to preserve and celebrate this priceless heritage.
Aki & Saâd
About us
Two sons of the North African diaspora in Zurich present their collection of Moroccan rugs, the hidden template of modern art. A tribute to their grandmothers and all the unnamed female artists whose influence on Le Corbusier, Picasso or Frank Lloyd remained hidden.
Aki Chaabeni
Geboren in Düsseldorf, Kommunikation und Design studiert Hintergrund als Art Director/Fotograf. Inhaber von Coffee Truck Petit Frere Zürich. Kommunikation und beratung einer schweizerischen gemeinnützigen Stiftung. Gründer und Partner bei parabol.ch
Saâd Dhif
Geboren in Freiburg (CH), M.A in Volkswirtschaft. Hintergrund im Bankwesen und in der Finanzdienstleistungsberatung. Mitgründer und Vorstandsmitglied einer schweizerischen gemeinnützigen Stiftung. Gründer und Partner bei parabol.ch