Zolaykha Sherzad has a modern take on traditional Afghan fabrics and designs. Zolaykha Sherzad fled Afghanistan three decades ago to escape unrest that has dragged on ever since. Her ambitions for her business are ever growing and her goals unending. Zolaykha Sherzad has nearly 50 people working for her.
She is fuelling a revival in weaving and embroidery. Zolaykha Sherzad is drawing a steady stream of politicians, diplomats, entrepreneurs to her shop in a traditional courtyard in the heart of Kabul.
Zolaykha Sherzad is launching her line at boutiques in London, Dubai, Paris and New York. On her walls were displayed the traditional bright silk "chapan" jackets. They are a major inspiration. The rails between them are packed with wool and embroidered silk jackets, gossamer thin shirts and dresses embellished with the calligraphy of a top Afghan artist.
Zolaykha Sherzad’s tailors are highly skilled, the fabrics are luxurious and the use of stylish ethnic accents on modern lines means that the finished items do not look out of place in design capitals of the world. The concept of Afghan style has been bolstered by President Hamid Karzai’s regular global plaudits for his luxurious outfits. It can take 20 days just to thread the looms on which chapan silk is hand woven, and twice as long to weave 300 meters. Natural colors come from sources like walnuts, pomegranates and onions.
Reinventing in a country known for burqa-clad women means getting every stitch right and Zolaykha Sherzad’s has learnt to face all these challenges as she strives on to make her line internationally known.