A Berber Man's hooded cape (akhnif), probably Ait Ouaouzguite, Siroua Mountains, Middle Atlas, Morocco

The akhnif ws frequently mentioned in 19th century travellers' accounts as the distinctive costume of Berber and Jewish men in the Siroua mountains.  The large 'eye' shape on the back is their particularly noteworthy feature and is created through the use of supplementary wefts, which also help create the curved shape of the garment itself.  For a very closely related example in the Eliza M. and Sarah L. Niblack Collection, Inv. No. 33.1984, please see Paydar, N.I. & Grammet, I. ed., The Fabric of Moroccan Life, Indianapolis Museum of Art, 2002, p.253.