Story of the silk blouse

I went to Afghanistan in 2004 and 2006. The 2004 visit was the first time I had been back in over 20 years and it was the trip that changed my life (I was 4 when my family fled the soviet invasion).

As part of our travels to see long lost family in the province of Herat (where I was born), my husband and I also compiled a short film about the people who had returned to Afghanistan after the fall of Taliban.

The film involved going into villages and interviewing women (most widowed from the wars) and their families about the experiences of struggle and survival. The stories I heard stayed with me and are still part of my thoughts.

After we came back, I decided I had to do something and would start small so that upon going back in 2006 I set up a sewing circle of women.

In 2004 when I had been there, the ability to teach and to be taught had a profound effect on the women within the province – there were sewing courses, craft courses, make up courses, schools were full of girls. The fierce competition from my mother’s era to be top of the school was back on amongst both boys and girls.

In 2006, it was at a day course for women that I met the enthusiastic group who would produce my silk thread embroidery for me. The arrangement was that we would pay a good premium for these women to weave their ancient art of “khamak”. See example here

The long term goal is to build on this and through taking baby steps, to create a source of income for them and those who choose to join us down the track.

It took about 8 – 10 months before I received my first shipment of these beautiful works of art.

Each pattern is different in the way that it has been sewn because the sewing style of each woman is different, just like her experiences, these are unique to her self and it is a pleasure to be able to incorporate this needlework into a Papershaker blouse.

We continue to work with the group and look forward to bringing you more!