The south of Morocco is home to large palm groves, where the use of straw has always been rooted in the local culture. Basketweaving is the oldest craft of Morocco and was originally performed only by men.
Today, women have also become experts in the field and the art of basketry has continued to grow. Like all Moroccan crafts, basketry forms differ from one region to another. Grouped into cooperatives or associations, the craftswomen work together and sell their products in major cities like Marrakech, Fez and Rabat.
The palm fronds utilized in the process of basket weaving must be cut regularly for the palms to grow. They are recycled in order to create these baskets, and so the craft is involved in the growth of the tree and is part of a sustainable development and ecology.