Rita’s Journey: Saving Tradition Through Ceramics

Art and design have always been integral to Rita’s life. With a background in fine arts, design, and photography, she spent years working in publishing and cinema. But something was missing. Sculpture had always been a passion of hers, yet she struggled to find a professional path that truly felt right.

That changed when she met her partner during his PhD in Spain. Conversations turned into ideas, and those ideas became SANIA—a ceramic studio dedicated to preserving endangered traditional techniques while adapting them for the present.

"I didn’t want these traditions to disappear. There are so few artisans left practicing these methods," Rita says. "We wanted to find a way to keep them alive, but also let them evolve."

Now based in Tetouan, SANIA focuses on craftsmanship rooted in history. Techniques like Tetouanese zellige and Rifian female pottery—once thriving but now fading—are at the heart of their work. Rita and her partner collaborate closely, with her shaping ceramic vases and him designing intricate patterns and geometric tiles.

Yet for Rita, the work is deeply personal, a process that is as much about creativity as it is about preservation.

"All my pieces are unique and handcrafted; I don’t use molds. For me, the fact that each one is one of a kind gives it a special value. I’m not interested in mass production but in the creative process itself—the surprises that emerge from it. In this way, I feel that I give each creation life and personality."

This philosophy is at the core of SANIA—celebrating the imperfections, the individuality of each piece, and the traditions that inform them.

"For me, working with clay is a process of exploration and wonder. I may start with an idea, but it’s by following my intuition that I arrive at the final form. Like a dance with the unpredictable."

Their work has made its way into places like the Four Seasons in Marrakech and the St. Regis in Tamuda, but that isn’t what drives Rita.

"It’s not about big projects or recognition. It’s about the process, about understanding where these techniques come from and making sure they don’t vanish."

Each piece they create tells a story—not just of craft, but of culture, memory, and change.

"There’s something special about working with your hands, about carrying on something that has been done for centuries. It connects you to something bigger than yourself."

Through SANIA, Rita isn’t just making ceramics; she’s holding onto something fragile yet enduring, something worth passing on.

"Craftsmanship isn’t just about objects—it’s about history, identity, and people. And if we don’t protect it, we lose more than just art. We lose a piece of who we are."