I just returned from a quick three day trip to the Coachella valley in the California desert. If you saw my Instagram stories, you know I had a few hours to browse the home decor and furniture shops in the area that includes Palm Springs, Indio, Yucca Valley, Palm Desert, and Joshua Tree National Park. Desert style is still going strong, the neutral tones, organic textures, and woven materials are still in demand especially in the soft desert tones that include clay, taupe, sage, blush, and terra cotta.
In several stores I noticed textiles in sabra fabrics, mostly pillows and tote bags. All of them were so lovely l I found myself longing for a sabra pillow or two to add to my sofas for the fall. It’s been awhile since I wrote about textiles, but my recent visit to the desert inspired today’s spotlight!
What is sabra you might ask? Sabra is often referred to as “cactus silk” although the fibers actually come from agave which is a succulent, not a cactus. The leaves of the agave are harvested then dyed with botanical pigments. The threads are loomed into the silk and then embroidered patterns in geometric motifs are traditionally added.
The agave plant is native to Mexico but the fabrics are cultivated in Morocco, so most of the sabra textiles sold around the world are sourced from Fes or Marrakech. It’s a textile that is also associated with the desert bohemian style of decor so naturally the patterns pop up in home decor shops in the desert.
marr kett
blush & ochre
moroccan concept / aztec house
ottoman shop
blush & ochre
If you’re thinking of adding sabra silk cushions to your home, see the list below for sources for pillow covers, rugs, and more.
Sources for Sabra textiles:
Etsy shops
Benisouk
Blush & Ochre
Berberology
Saffron & Spruce
Indigo & Saffron
Marr-Kett (Australia)
Aztec house (Australia)