Naema is the president of a cooperative of 100 women from low-income families.

Each member learned the craft of djellaba button making from their mothers or grandmothers.

Traditionally, these buttons were made to sell to tailors who make djellabas, the traditional hooded and buttoned caftan worn by Moroccan and Berber women.

Cooperative members make the buttons at home using a special “sabra” thread for use in clothing and jewelry.

After plying together two-to-three strands of more than one color and then placing them over a steel holder, the buttons are then hand sewn using needle and thread.

The women formed a cooperative so that they can become more self-sustaining and find markets for their work.