November, 21st, 2013

KABUL | AFGHANISTAN IN MODE | ZARIF DESIGN

A concept for women and men, the Zarif Design lines are designed and produced in Kabul, employing the skills of local Afghan women working with fabrics original to Afghanistan. Intricate hand embroidery and brightly colored, silk “chapans” are combined to create these strikingly unique and magnificently finished coats. The timeless lines of this elegant series of fitted shirts, coats and skirts perfectly bridge Central Asian tradition with contemporary Western sensibility.

“Zarif”, meaning “precious” or “fine” in Dari is an initiative started by Zolyakha Sherzad.

Zolaykha Sherzad born in Kabul, Afghanistan. At the age of 10 she had to leave Afghanistan and became a political refugee in Switzerland. She graduated in 1994 from the School of Architecture in Lausanne. She practiced as an architect for different companies in Switzerland, Japan and New York, taught Design Studio at Pratt Institute School of Architecture (1998 – 2004).

In 2000, founded “School of Hope – SoH” a not- for-profit organization sponsoring education in Afghanistan. SoH is now merged with School of Leadership for Afghanistan – SOLA.

In 2005, she initiated Zarif Design, working with Afghan women in reviving the traditional textile into a modern design, working in Kabul with a group of 36 women and 16 men on developing the Zarif Design Center.

Zolaykha participated in several shows representing Afghanistan through its label. Zarif Design has presented its collection at agnès b stores, a well-established French designer in Paris 2009, London 2010 and New York 2011.

In 2009 participated at the Biennale of Venice presented her work at the Afghan, Iranian and Pakistani Pavilion “East – West Divan”.

In 2012 participated at one of the major international shows, DOCUMENTA 13, in Kassel – Germany and Kabul.

Zarif Design has participated in the designs of the costumes for two major shows, “One Thousand nights” in Toronto in 2011 and “The Comedy of Errors” by Shakespeare in 2012 at the Globe in London which received the first price.