Hand embroidered pashmina shawls
Created by the Afghanistan Women's Sewing Initiative

Click on the photo/link of the shawls at the bottom of this page to make your purchase and lend support to the women of Afgahanistan.

In the aftermath of nearly 30 years of turmoil and civil war, most women in Afghanistan have no means of supporting themselves or their families, yet many are faced with this responsibility. Many families live in bombed out shelters, with no running water, no toilets or electricity. Several generations cluster together in these make-shift homes.

The Vision:
The vision was to teach Afghan women to make fabric items using traditional Afghan embroidery and ethnic patterns. These items would be purchased from the women as piece work, and sent to the United States to be sold. All proceeds from these sales would be returned to the Sewing Initiative, first to pay the women engaged in sewing, and then to expand the program by teaching more women. Money also would be used to purchase sewing machines to present to the women upon their graduation from sewing and tailoring classes, and help them establish home businesses as neighborhood tailors, an accepted and useful occupation for women in Afghan communities.

An empty classroom was converted into a sewing room, an Afghan tailor hired as an instructor, and students began to construct not only kitchen accessories, but Gazni dresses, and beautifully embroidered womenen's shirts and shawls. These items preserve and continue the traditional craftsmanship of Afghan embroidery, design and tailoring.

When the first group of women graduated from tailoring class, all nine were presented with sewing machines and basic tools such as scissors, needles and thread. These items were provided to assist the women in starting a home-based business. Some of the women are embroidering beautiful shawls, while others are making kitchen accessories and clothing.

The amazing thing about Afghan women is their ability to hope in the face of all odds. All they want is a chance. A chance for peace. A chance to provide for their families. A chance to live with some degree of security. These are women just like us. They want their children to grow up in a secure environment, with food to eat and a warm place to sleep. The Sewing Initiative seeks to help women like these.

The Sewing Initiative is in its infancy, and more work is needed to establish a reliable supply of items, but this project is well under way. Women in the program already have beautiful embroidery skills, and their potential is limitless. With our help, they can use these skills to provide for themselves and for their children.

Here is how you can help: Click the link at the bottom of this page to purchase a beautiful shawl or consider purchasing several for Christmas gift giving. All proceeds are forwarded on to the Afghanistan Women's Sewing Project. With your help we can all make a difference together in the lives of these women and their families.

The Women's Sewing Initiative is part of the Afghanistan Relief Organization (ARO), a non-political, non-religious, nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization, registered in the United States and in Afghanistan (a requirement of all non governmental organizations working in Afghanistan). We bring people together in a common goal to aid our fellow man. Help Build Hope in Afghanistan!

AfghanRelief.org

Each of the shawls is a one of a kind. Each is individually embroidered with a unique and traditional design using silk thread. They are absolutely gorgeous!

The Shawls are made of soft pashmina, are 72 x 28 with 3" fringe on the ends - $40.00

CLICK ON THE PHOTO OF THE SHAWLS BELOW TO MAKE YOUR PURCHASE AND LEND YOUR SUPPORT TO THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF AFGHANISTAN.

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