Making the Simo bed in Marrakesh
The Souks, aka 'markets' of Marrakesh, are renowned for their infusion of craftsmanship, commerce, and artistry. I was lucky enough to visit family friends who call Marrakesh their home in the Spring of 2019. I was so inspired by the textiles and makers that we decided to make a collection of dog beds from the trip.
After going to a myriad of shops and touching heaps of fabric, we chose to use a textile called Sabra. Sabra is made from 'cactus silk' - the strong and smooth fibers that run through the agave plant. This plant produces a material that has a heavyweight feel and smooth finish, a perfect dog bed material. We worked with a local artisan named Mohammed (a pretty common name around these parts). He was warm and jovial and poured us traditional Moroccan tea that was both bitter and exceptionally sweet. Over the next two months, we worked closely with Mohammed going back and forth on the details of the beds as he sewed each cover by hand. We chose a subdued charcoal color as our base with pops of jewel-tone detail. Each cover is one-of-a-kind, with traditional symbols and embroidery that is both funky and chic. The pallet of these beds comes from the all-natural botanical pigments used to dye the yarn and the process of hand dyeing, washing, and drying these materials under the Moroccan sun.
To pair with this cover, we chose to work with 100% natural shredded latex inner fill. On both a personal and professional level, we've been doing whatever we can to reduce our use of plastics. We want to do our part to lower the amount of waste that gets put into landfills and our oceans each year (#loveyoumamaearth). Most dog beds are made with a synthetic fill called 'polyester fiberfill' aka polyfill. This is a type of plastic made with petrochemicals that can take 5,000+ years to disintegrate and is often very difficult to recycle properly. Polyfill also has a low density, which means it compresses over time to have a flatter, less 'cushy' feel.
Natural latex, on the other hand, is made with sustainably harvested sap from the rubber tree. To the touch, it's akin to a high-quality and organic memory foam. It has a high density, which means it's heavier, but also that it keeps its shape and 'cushiness' over time. This is especially important for 'mature pups' with older bones or joint pain. Natural latex also keeps cooler than polyfills or synthetic memory foam beds which makes for a bed that's comfy enough for you to want to nap on too.
These beds have been designed to look and feel elegant for years to come. Every part of the beds cover, insert, and brass zippers have been carefully selected for longevity and style. They are not 'fast fashion' and are not meant to wind up in a landfill next year. Although they are more expensive than many other dog beds on the market, their mark-up is less than traditional retail and we think it shows with the quality of these beds. We hope you and your pup love these beds as much as we do!