TŪNIQ - a Story of People & Place
After searching for a prayer rug for myself, I came across the project of TŪNIQ, and have been in love with them ever since. Over the years I’ve watched as their project has shifted, grown and expanded not in volume but in definition and expression. From their garments to rugs, their artisans and the stories of them as real people, as well as the very land they live and work with, TUNIQ makes the rare effort to exemplify artisanal craft. It is a tremendous pleasure and honor to share their story and goods, beginning with their Olive Prayer Rug, which you can view here.
Why prayer rugs?
To designate a space for meditation, contemplation, and prayer is to dignify a spiritual practice - and blessedly, these beautiful pieces are dignifying to those who craft them, too. I am so proud to offer these woven rugs from Tuniq; each intentionally spun, dyed, and woven by hand by North African artisans in their homes and on their own schedules, made of 100% pure raw wool from local free-ranged small-scale flocks and plant-dyed using organic fig leaves and iron nails, in the traditional method. Purchasing means fair income for artisans, craft keepers and communities of this region.
Made to prompt reflection on the production and materials of prayer rugs, clothing, and other materials - which are unfortunately too often produced in exploitative conditions and of pollutive materials - these rugs are designed with hallowed purpose, and serve as a reminder of our sacred calling of tending, service and stewardship towards the planet we call home.
See their process of crafting each rug in the video below:
Statement from the brand: All TŪNIQ pieces are manufactured from start to finish, raw material to completed piece (sheep to shop, we like to say), by hand by artisans in North Africa using natural materials. We partner with shepherds who sell their unprocessed sheep's wool which is then handspun into thread, dyed using local plants and herbs or left in natural hues, woven into fabric, cut and sewn, and finally embroidered and finished in our cooperative. This process is a far cry from widespread industrial textile production which uses abusive labor practices and carcinogenic chemical fabric treatments from start to finish. Unlike the vast majority of clothing companies, we make the clothing we sell in house and are therefore able to create and tailor every step of the process to our standards, which are to do absolutely no harm to communities or the environment and to seek blessing and benefits for all at every step.
To learn more about their practices, standards and ethics, visit the link here.