It all begins with an idea.

In Morocco all their dyes are made from natural pigments which makes them vibrant and beautiful. Tumeric, pommegranite, roses, indigo create colours that capture the rich colours of this arid country.

Soft Cotton Turkish Towels are a hit in Canada - great pashminas on those cool summer evenings! Imported direct from the warehouse in Istanbul from our friend Habib. Available in Fernie, BC Canada. Shipping in Canada by Canada Post.

Well, here I go with my first blog trying to explain The Funky Old Medina! If your mind immediately went to “The Funky Cold Medina” you are right! The title of this rap song from the 90’s easily transitioned to the title of our import business “The Funky Old Medina”. What a cool name! Trouble is, nobody knows what our business is about. So I am here to explain.
My daughter and I had been in travel business for 20 years when the pandemic hit and impacted our international tours. So we decided to bring the world to our clients though imports from two of our favorite destinations which happen to have medinas. Now what is a Medina?
What does Medina mean in a city?
A medina is the old part of a town or city, found in many countries of North Africa, not just Morocco. It is typically walled, and contains narrow streets, fountains, palaces and mosques.

Visiting a medina is like stepping back in time! From dying leather for poufs and purses (an 800 year old tradition in Fez) to hand knotting Beni Ourain carpets to chiseling metal tables and lanterns Artisans can be found in the myriad of alleys that make up the souk (market). Children learn at a young age to carry on this inherited artisan skill and are often found (after school) in the small hovels of the souk learning the skill from their parents.

In 2021 when we first started importing we were counting on people we did not know well but seemed trustworthy. However, there were some problems with shipping - $$$ and breakage that we had to deal with in a costly manner. Since we have been able to travel again and meet the artisans in person it has improved the quality of our products and it ensures the money goes directly to them. Our focus is on hand made artisan imports from the Medinas of Morocco and country markets of Turkey to compliment your modern day comfort with old world creations.
Welcome to our world on thefunkyoldmedina.ca for online shopping.

Corinne Feb. 20, 2024

Recycling Carpets
If one goes to a carpet shop in Turkey chances are you will be looking at vintage carpets from East Anatolia (Turkey), Afghanistan or Iran. Back in the day, the nomads lived in tents and their only way of transporting their goods was to roll them up in a carpet and throw them on the back of a camel. Perhaps this is where the term “carpet baggers” came from although today’s meaning is not taken literally. Adem, our carpet dealer in Kayserai near Cappadocia, Turkey has been repairing vintage carpets since he was 14, again tradition in the family. We visited his shop in 2022 and he had rooms full of vintage carpets, all different shapes and sizes from all over Eastern Asia. We took our guests for a visit and they chose some carpets but could not leave with the carpet until it was inspected by his technicians (his brother and wife) to make sure it was straight and in good repair. He had just moved his operation to the 3rd floor of a downtown village centre which gave him 3 rooms instead of 2 for storage and 1 room for repair. It was an endearing experience – not like being lured into a carpet shop in Istanbul and leaving with your pockets empty. Our relationship with Adem and his family is all about trust for payment and delivery AND reasonable prices.
Back to Recyling. When a carpet is too worn out – maybe after 100 years if can be cut up into small pieces to form a runner in the form of a patchwork carpet OR it can be made into kilim cushions square or rectangular. Kilim means flat weave,by the way. OR smaller still kilim satchels for your ipad or kimble OR smaller yet into a small clutch to use as a purse or for doggie treats. They are all very colourful and have symbols most of which have to do with fertility and longevity in life.
Carpets of natural dye-coloured strands of goat hair were new to me. One of the carpets we had in our possession was exactly the same as the one I saw on the tent floor of a Sultan in a period film. Maybe Sultan Mohmed II when he sieged Constantinople in 1453!
Silk carpets are the most expensive and are new as the silk industry still exists at the end of the Silk Road in Constantinople.
Corinne Thomson
Feb. 24, 2024