Afghanistan


1
ARTISAN BUSINESS
PARTNER
6
COMMUNITY
WORKSHOPS
6
YEARS OF
PARTNERSHIP
Many of the Artisans in Afghanistan spent time in Pakistan as refugees during Taliban rule before 2001. Through their work making Noonday Collection pieces, the women have been able to experience personal and economic empowerment through fair and flexible work opportunities. This Artisan Partner has provided over 50 women with fair and flexible work opportunities.

With the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, these women’s right to work hangs in the balance. We hope to continue this partnership for years to come.

100% OF THE ARTISANS
who make our pieces in Afghanistan are women

76% OF ARTISANS
were able to work from home in 2020




Artisan Stories



Afghanistan

Naslyn

Afghanistan

Fatima

Afghanistan

Qobra



Techniques


Hand Embroidered Textiles

In Afghanistan, embroidery is a cherished craft that is often passed down from mother to daughter. Using traditional embroidery techniques and motifs, our Partners hand embroider intricate designs to create styles that carry a beautiful legacy. Each piece takes many hours to create and is stitched with love and care.





Inside Afghanistan

Afghanistan

Located along the ancient Silk Road, Afghanistan has been a crossroads for culture and trade for thousands of years. As a result, the country is home to people of many different backgrounds.

Art is a vital part of Afghan culture, and the Afghan people have cherished poetry for centuries. Caves in the Afghan city of Bamiyan are home to the world's first oil paintings.

Decades of war between the Afghan government and the Taliban resulted in political and economic instability. After U.S. occupation in the country began in 2001, and thus the exodus of the Taliban, Afghans worked hard to rebuild in the face of continued violence.

The Taliban’s reinstatement within Afghanistan in 2021 has left the Afghan people with political instability and uncertainty for how their lives, especially those of women and girls, may be altered.

COUNTRIES & TECHNIQUES
Afghanistan Hand Embroidered Textiles
East Asia Gold Plating
Ecuador Natural Seeds
Ethiopia Leather, Upcycled Artillery
Guatemala Handwoven Textiles, Beadwork
Haiti Beading, Hand Cut Leather
India Handmade Metal & Glass, Hand Cut Leather
Kenya Brass
Mexico Leather
Nepal Traditional Metalworking, Inlay
Peru Hand Embroidered Textiles, Brass & Sterling Silver
Rwanda Dutch Wax Print Fabric
Thailand Porcelain, Gold, Rice Paper
Uganda Paper Beads, Ethically Sourced Horn
Vietnam Ethically Sourced Water Buffalo Horn, Marble