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A new lease on life for Beldi Glass

A new lease on life for Beldi Glass

Destined for extinction after the closure of its sole manufacturing plant, Beldi Glass has been revived with new life at the Beldi Country Club. Establishing the factory in Marrakech has helped preserve this iconic item while maintaining jobs for the workers. Photo: Beldi Country Club

Beldi Glass, a vessel whose manufacture dates back to the 1940s, has been a part of Moroccan life across generations. Used in cafes to serve tea or nus-nus, this 100% local glass has made its way into grand hotels and into the suitcases of tourists as a cherished souvenir.

The workshop of hope

Since 1973, this unique symbol of Moroccan tables was produced by the Casablanca factory Sover, churning out 10,000 glasses a day. However, in June 2013, the factory located in Ain Sebaa was forced to file for bankruptcy due to fierce competition from Chinese products and overwhelming debt, leaving its 80 employees in a precarious situation.

Formerly sourcing from Sover, the Beldi Country Club decided to relocate the business to save the iconic Beldi Glass and its blowers with unmatched expertise. Recently, the estate of this boutique hotel has hosted a workshop equipped with safety-compliant facilities.

How does it work?

The daily production of the workshop is 8,000 pieces, destined for wholesale and export. Beldi Glass is original, aesthetic and above all ecological, as it is made from various scraps of glass and bottles. The raw material is melted in a furnace at 1,600 degrees to create an orange paste, which is then blown, molded, and flame-cut with an oxygen torch before a second stint in the furnace.

The new factory has not only saved this item embedded in Moroccan culture but has also modernized it. Beldi Glass is now available in various forms: bowls, vases, salad bowls, carafes, votive holders, etc.

Where to find Beldi Glass?

 

The Souk by Beldi Country Club 
Km 6, route du barrage, Cherifia 
05 24 38 39 50

 

Chabi Chic Majorellle
33,rue Yves Saint Laurent
05 24 31 41 95/87

 

Chabi Chic Medina 
1, derb Arjan, Place des Epices 
05 24 39 12 79

Published: Nov 13, 2024