Markets for Afghan Artisans

Hand-Embroidered Home Decor

Clothing, Bags, Recycled G oods

ZARDOZI Markets for Afghan Artisans Company Statement

Zardozi Markets for Afghan Artisans is a registered, non-profit Afghan NGO. Our trading is unfunded. Through viable business operations, we represent the employment of approximately 1500 home-based Afghan women in the eastern provinces and border refugee camps. Embroidery is unique in Afghanistan, a highly respected form of womens work, integral to hospitality and culture. Afghan women retain their embroidery earnings, making embroidery one of the most effective ways to boost womens standing and contribution within the household. Women with income are effective agents of development. Zardozi (earlier the DACAAR Sewing Center) has worked with 3000 refugee families over the past 25 years. This deep experience allows Zardozi to work effectively in conservative communities through all-female networks of community industry. In 2005, Zardozi left its donors to let the market guide its development. Zardozi has grown by at least 50% each year since, and 2008 sales will be near $500,000. To build its export platform, Zardozi attended the smaller Santa Fe shows in 2005 and 2006, and Berlin in 2007. In 2008, Zardozi attended the Aid to Artisans Market Readiness course at the New York International Gift Fair. This application for January 2009 represents the culmination of three years preparation. All Zardozi goods are embroidered by hand, in the refugee camps of Pakistan, or in camps for landless returnees in eastern Afghanistan. Zardozi provides all materials and pays for all work upon completion: our producers do not work on credit or commission. We have created an all-female value chain, bringing market information and inputs to producers to raise the market value of their work. Zardozi goods are manufactured by Afghan tailors, in refuge or in our new center in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Goods proposed for the NYIGF are made from Afghan cotton, handwoven Afghan silk and turban silk, with a few mass-produced fabrics and lining. The motifs are traditional Afghan designs, while the finished products are decidedly international. Zardozis enterprise employs one international Director, and about ten people in its Kabul sales outlet, Ganjina (the treasure chest). In Peshawar, Pakistan, Zardozi employs about 50 staff in refugee camp operations and manufacture. During 2008, Zardozi opened formal operations in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, employing 15 more Afghans and 1000 new embroiderers. Zardozi has also launched a programming wing to link home-based producers to domestic markets across Afghanistan. Zardozi presently exports to the US, Canada, UK, Peru and Japan. Zardozi believes that Afghanistans unique embroidery will best realize its potential as an employment engine when it reaches (and suits) a wide market. Zardozis application to the New York International Gift Fair has been assisted by USAIDs Afghanistan Small and Medium Enterprise Development Program.

For further information, please feel free to contact me: Marilyn Garson Director Zardozi Enterprise marzardozi@gmail.com Kabul phone: (93) 0799-195-623 www.afghanartisans.com

ZARDOZI Market Items

Product Name Description Materials and Construction

Hazara Cushion Cover Set

Afghan Cotton cushion cover with tarshumar embroidery. The set consists of three cushion covers. Please check for available fabric colors

Afghan cotton, cotton thread, plastic buttons

Pukta Dozi Cushion Cover Set

Afghan Cotton cushion cover with pukta dozi embroidery. The set consists of 3 pieces. Please check for available fabric colors

Afghan cotton, cotton thread, plastic buttons

Zanjeera Cushion Cover Set

Cotton canvas cover with chain stitch embroidery. The set consists of four cushion covers. Please check for available fabric colors

Cotton Canvas

Kitchen Set

Pot holder, oven mitt and barbeque-style apron with pocket. Afghan cotton with contrasting trim, and zanjeera motifs.

Afghan Cotton, cotton thread. Pot holder and oven mitt have inner quilting for insulation

Christmas Stocking

Lightly stuffed and individually beaded, with gold thread for hanging. Available in golg-on-gold, silver-on-white, or gold on red.

Synthetic fabrics with lame, glass beads.

Christmas Camel

Christmas camel (actually, a year-round favorite), small standing camel sewn from cotton canvas, with beaded harness and saddle. Gold thread for hanging, or stands independently.

Cotton canvas, glass and plastic beads, synthetic thread

Bags
Small carry bag of lightly padded cotton, with round wooden handles and exuberant Kuchi embroidery. Three color ways: red, black and off white. Handwoven Afghan Cotton with matching lining, thin padding. Thick piping at seams. Cotton and metallic thread with mirrors. Cell phone pocket. Round handles of polished wood.

Afghan Cotton Kuchi Bag

Silk Evening Bag

Clutch-style purse with full Tarshomar embroidery on hand-woven Afghan silk. Small magnet closure. Steel blue, black and olive green colors available

Rayon thread on silk. silk lining, inner zip pocket approx. 16 cm. Thin silk strap.

Tarshumar Bag w/ Accessories

Canvas plus Afghan silk trim and lining. With accessories: Key chain and a card holder

Silk trim, lining and strap. Rayon thread on cotton canvas, zip inner pocket 22 cm, full length zip closure with long tassel.

Cotton Motif Bag

Single motif of tarshomar, on a cotton canvas bag with contrasting trim and shoulder strap. Variable colors.

Cotton canvas, light quilting, rayon thread.

Chappan Bag

Made from chappan cotton with patchwork of printed rayon. Patchwork colors are variable with fabric supplies

Body of bag and strap are made from Afghanistans iconic chappan cottons. Patchwork is printed rayon, poly-cotton lining. One metallic button closure

Silk Jewelry Bag

Small Afghan silk pouch with embroidered motif on front. Variable colors

100% silk, rayon thread, twisted cotton pull ties

Pukhta Dozi Pomegranate Bag

5-sided flat shoulder bag in Afghan cotton, with pukhta dozi pomegranate motif and small corner tassels. Colors vary with fabric availability.

Afghan cotton outer, polycotton lining, light quilting, cotton thread. Inner zip pocket 18 cm. Tab and magnetic closure at top. Flat shoulder strap.

Shoulder Bag with Cross Stitch

Cross stitch embroidered on black cotton, lightly quilted. Long corner tassels. Variable colors

Cotton thread on cotton canvas, twisted cotton strap, full length zip closure

Markets for Afghan Artisans

Recycled Goods

Pleated Burkha Bag

Recycled pleated burkha (made from the Afghan womens veil) bag with twisted strap and kandahari embroidery.

Burkhas are rayon, available in blue or mossgreen. Straps made from organza, in two color combinations

Blissful Burkha Bag

Small, pleated pouch recycled from a burkha (the Afghan womens veil). The pouch expands when full.

Rayon, one beaded button

Miniature Burkhas

cover your golf clubs, wine bottles, etc with a detailed, handembroidered miniature. Available in blue, black, gold, green, red, white.

Rayon thread on pleated rayon

Urban Turban Photo Frames

Standing desk photo frames in quilted silk, from Herat, Afghanistan. Available in three sizes (pocket-double size not shown). Available in shades of 100% natural silk: black, grey, chocolate, beige, silver and cream. Quilted post-it note covers, re-usable in standard post-it sizes. Makes a great corporate gift set. Available in shades of 100% natural silk: black, grey, chocolate, beige, silver and cream.

Hand-woven turban silk, cork board, foam and plastic photo cover.

Urban Turban Post-It Note Pads

Hand-woven turban silk, cork board, foam and post-it notebook.

Turban Silk Mouse Pads

Silk palette mouse pads

Clothing
Available with embroidered collar, or fully embroidered yoke (see front cover). Relaxed fit, each takes more than one month to embroider by hand. Plenty of tone-ontone colors.

Kandahari Shirt

Can be ordered in rayon, cottons or winter wool.

Cross-Stitch Shirt

Casual rayon shirt with brightly hand-embroidered collar, hem and cuffs. Wide color assortment. Relaxed fit, never goes out of style.

Rayon thread on rayon fabric.

Bamiyan Dress with Shalwar Pants

Loose-fitting, knee-length tunic, worn over billowing shalwar pants, with multicolored collar embroidery. A cheerful interpretation of regional style.

Rayon thread on rayon fabric.

Ghazni Childs Dress

Three-piece sets, with matching pants and tasseled scarf. Clothes are made from printed rayon with embroidery, coins and tassel decorations.

Rayon thread on rayon fabric, metal decorations.

Silk Cuff Shirt

Pure cotton tunic with wide cuffs of silk. Simple but exotic

100% cotton shirt, 100% silk cuff

Silk Collar Shirt

Pure cotton tunic with silk neckline. Even simpler, still exotic

100% cotton shirt, 100% silk collar

Baby Bag

Tarshomar embroidered pouch, variable colors

Rayon thread on cotton canvas, twisted cotton strap, small Velcro closure

Document Briefcase

Smart cotton document bag with strip tarshomar embroidery

Cotton inner and outer, light polyester lining

Glasses Case, Motif Embroidery

Padded cotton canvas case for glasses, with motifs embroidered front and back, and contrasting lining / piping.

Cotton canvas, padded, poly-cotton lining and piping. Rayon thread

Glasses Case, Full Embroidery

Padded cotton canvas case for glasses, with tarshomar embroidery front and back. Variable colors

Cotton canvas, padded, poly-cotton lining and piping. Rayon thread

Flat Pencil Case, Embroidery One Side

Fits pencils or US dollar bills. Lightly padded with tarshomar embroidery on the front only. Colors variable

Rayon thread on cotton canvas. Sturdy cotton canvas lining. Full length zip

Flat Wallet

Billfold-style wallet, tarshomar embroidery front and back. 3 credit card pockets, 2 full-length pocket plus zipped fulllength pocket. Variable colors

Rayon thread on cotton canvas. Metal corners. Internal zipped pocket

Phone / iPod Cover, Cross Stitch

Padded silk cover with cross stitch front and carrying loop on the back. Fits iPod nano and small phones.

Hand-woven Afghan silk inside and out, light padding. Cotton thread

Sewing Case

Sewing notions case, tarshomar embroidery all over. Platted tie. Three inner pockets, one zipped

Rayon thread on cotton canvas

Bookmark

Classic flat bookmark with tarshomar embroidery and tassel

Rayon thread on cotton canvas

Key Ring

Key ring with triangular tarshomar tab and beaded edge

Rayon thread on cotton canvas, glass beads, metal key ring

Tawizak

Rayon thread on cotton canvas. 12 cm twisted cotton tie, for attachment

Afghan cotton, cotton thread, plastic buttons

Zardozi - Markets for Afghan Artisans Kabul, Afghanistan

copyright 2009