Downtown Mahdia, when a weaver is working, the whole alley is moving on a frenetic rythm of a silk weaver-loom.
An horizontal machine on which the weaver makes running at leat seven pedals and as many of weaver's shuttles, a real orchestra leader.

Threads are crossed and intermingled, many-colored, gold or silver.
As long as anyone can remember, the figures are all geometrical on ribbons and tissues.
For a centimeter, the weaving's shuttle has to go over 26 times.

Weavers of Mahdia export their production to the four corner of the country.
Every area has its own colors and figures.
Only the pattern of the wedding costum is unique : a cutting-sawing technic, associating to the draping, heritated from the ancient time.

Although certified in Mahdia during the Fatimides period, the silk was reintroduced by jewish families coming from Libya.
The popular ribbons of Mahdia are used for belts, headdresses, ribbons, tunic or hangings.

But in competition with the artificial silk, the business were quickly in crisis.
With the independance of the country, the artisans grouped in associations and took some measures of protection, which gave a relative stability to the production.

Nowadays, a little fifty weavers perpetuate the tradition and savoir-faire of the Mahdia's artisans.
From father to son, tools and weaving-looms are given, faithfully.