The Mauritanian craft industry is very diversified. They use wood, leather, silver and gold. The men work with metals and wood while the women work with leather, basket making and fabrics.

Traditionally, craftsmen constitute a caste, a closed social group whose competences are transmitted of from father to son(s).
In the past, especially the nomads manufactured mostly utilitarian objects: bags, shoes, cushions, prayer mats, covers in skin, wooden saddles, trunks, cases, pipes, snuffboxes, locks, water-bottle, plates, all kinds of ornaments made of gold and silver.
Certain domestic objects, were not only for or by craftsmen like the plaits/braids, tents, and goatskin bottles. The women gathered in groups called "Twiza" to make them.
The southern region craft industry works especially with leather, gold and wood. Let us note also the importance of the caste of weavers who make loincloths and fabrics of a great richness.
The majority of the traditional craft objects do not have any more practical utility for a society which has become urbanized and sedentary at 96%. Therefore they are now art objects for galleries, decoration and often sought by the collectors, rich families and tourists.
It should be noted that the craftsmen evolved very much and adapted certain products to the new realities. Gathered in co-operatives, they manufacture richly decorated pieces of furniture, objects of paper, key-rings and shoes. It should be recalled that the jewels made of gold, silver and ebony are always sought by the locals and the foreigners.

The majority of the co-operatives of craftsmen are at the Nouakchott Fair. Certain cities are famous for the richness of their craft industry like Mederdra (for the trunks, pipes, tobacco boxes, tents) Boutilimit (for the bracelets, cushions, bags and carpet), Kiffa (for the pearls) Aleg (for the saddles and plaits), Boghé (for its weavers), Kaédi (for its shoe-makers) and its dyes. The work on and the making of fabric and textiles have very much evolved. Over the last decades, Mauritanian women have replaced their black veils for others more colourful. Fabric dyeing is now very developed. It is the town of Kaédi which is best known for its fabric dyes. The practice of the batik as well as dyes with wax is widespread in Nouakchott and in other cities. The Mauritanians wear much cotton, the damask, rich bazin…

Originally the making of carpets was especially present in the cities of North, Atar, Chenguetti, Bir Moghrein… However this activity has developed considerably in Mauritania since the independence in 1960. Today it is truly small industry, represented in the large cities where the women are gathered in co-operatives.
In Nouakchott, the Mauritanian City of Weaving, gathers the principal activities of carpet manufacturing. The company has a direct sales shop. See the heading shopping of TOWN OF NOUAKCHOTT.