The Museum of Moroccan Elegance, located in the historic medina of Marrakech, is one of the most interesting and surprising, due to the uniqueness of its theme and the way its collection is displayed. In this post, we tell you all the details about this place, which you can certainly visit with your children if you are traveling as a family.
A Different Museum: its Genesis
The Museum of Moroccan Elegance is the fulfilled dream of the artist who imagined it: Habiba Hantout, a multifaceted woman who dedicated her life to preserving the country’s textile heritage. But those who have really made it possible were her son, Hakim Cherradi, and his wife, Meriem Ammor, founders of this space.
Habiba Hantout was a great scholar of Moroccan clothing, spreading her knowledge through conferences at the end of the last century and the beginning of this one, in addition to writing a reference book on the subject: 13 centuries of elegance in Morocco, reviewing the different garments and fashions in the country during that period.
The Exposed Collection
The different rooms and showcases review the traditional costumes and the most characteristic garments of Morocco in the past and in the present, focusing not only on the elegance of each design but also on its symbolic and social value, used in different contexts.
The collection is divided into four thematic spaces, which gives us an idea of the pieces on display. The first section is called “Drapes”, where costumes of clear enveloping development are exhibited, combining elegance and intimacy to preserve identity, especially in the case of female models. Some of the costumes located here are haik, mendil and melhafa.
The second section is dedicated to “Coat-Garments”, with clothing that seeks to provide warmth to its user, without neglecting the aforementioned elegance. These are typical costumes and proposals in areas with harsh climates, such as the Rif and the Atlas. Some of the pieces are handira, selham and djellaba.
The third section is “Costumes inherited from Al-Andalus”, where the garments used in southern Spain in medieval times are exhibited and which later became fashionable in Morocco as well. Some of the most emblematic garments of the country that have this origin are the caftan, marlota and brocades.
Finally, the museum does not forget the “Costumes of modern influence”, highlighting that the colorful and refined Moroccan tradition is not at odds with the current fashion industry, being a source of inspiration for Arab designers but also Western and other cultures.
A Fashion Museum without Mannequins
Undoubtedly, something that will catch your attention is that in the Museum of Moroccan Elegance, the outfits are not displayed on mannequins, but on other much smaller characters: rag dolls, made precisely by the artist Habiba Hantout.
This turns the museum into a space dedicated to art and crafts, and also a place very well received by children. Therefore, if your trip is a family one and you take small children with you, they will surely be fascinated by these friendly toys that tell them a story: that of Moroccan elegance. In addition, it has a cafeteria with views of the medina at the top.
Practical Information about the Museum of Moroccan Elegance
If you want to add a visit to this museum during your stay in Marrakech, take note of the following useful information:
- Hours: Monday to Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Price: adults 50 DH, students/residents/Moroccans 30 DH, children under 12 years free
- Address: Rue Kaat Benahid, N° 5 Derb El Khamsi, Médina Marrakech 40000
Photo: website of the Museum of Moroccan Elegance in Marrakech
