At dusk, the soft rays of sunlight pierce through layers of cloud and filter through the window of a small shop on the outskirts of Kabul. Amid bolts of fabric, spools of vibrant thread, and delicate embroidery, a young woman with nimble hands and a keen eye carefully arranges hand-sewn garments adorned with traditional Hazaragi and Khamak embroidery designs. Twenty-three-year-old Nadia Hussaini, her face open and engaged, works inside Negar Handicrafts Store, crafting a variety of custom-made clothing and designs. Nadia, who had to leave school in the eleventh grade due to life’s many constraints, has transformed her deep interest in sewing and fashion design into a thriving business. “Because of my passion for sewing and Khamak embroidery, I was eventually able to open this shop after several years of working in the field,” she explains. “Our handicrafts include Hazaragi clothing, hand-embroidered shawls, scarves, pants with Khamak patterns, and embroidered men’s collars.” Inside the small Negar Handicrafts Store, everything has its place. A section is dedicated to Khamak-stitched clothing in a variety of colors, shelves are stacked with polka-dot and gauze fabrics, and half-mannequins display samples of each design. Most of the garments Nadia creates are assembled from patches, thread, and needles, with each piece requiring several days of meticulous hand-stitching. At the same time, she remains committed to sourcing raw materials from within Afghanistan whenever possible, aiming not only to grow her own business but also to contribute to the country’s economic development. See more... https://8am.media/eng/handicrafts-as-resistance-the-story-of-nadia-hussaini/