Leather Goods — Bags, Babouches, Poufs, and Jackets
Moroccan leather has a global reputation, and the tanning process in Fez has barely changed in centuries. You will find everything from traditional slippers (babouches) to backpacks, jackets, and those iconic round leather poufs.
Fair prices:
- Babouches (traditional slippers): 80–250 MAD ($8–$25)
- Medium handbag: 400–1,000 MAD ($40–$100)
- Backpack: 500–1,500 MAD ($50–$150)
- Pouf, unstuffed: 150–400 MAD ($15–$40)
- Leather jacket: 2,000–3,500 MAD ($200–$350)
Quality checks:
- Leather types ranked by quality: goat (soft and durable), cow (thick and strong), camel (rugged and traditional), sheep (soft but less durable)
- Naturally tanned leather has a distinctive smell that fades over time. Chemically tanned leather retains a harsh odor
- Check the stitching: hand-stitched seams are slightly irregular — and that is actually a good sign. Perfectly uniform stitching means machine-made
- Press your finger into the leather and release. Good leather bounces back. If the dent stays, the quality is low or the leather is old
Where to buy: Fez, specifically shops near the Chouara Tannery. Marrakech sells the same products but at higher prices, since most of its leather comes from Fez anyway.