Turquoise Mountain
Turquoise Mountain, a British not-for-profit organization, aims to support traditional Afghan craft by connecting artisan businesses with designers and retailers across the globe. This latest collaboration unites Sima Vaziry, an award-winning jewellery designer and maker based in London, with Afghan jewellery businesses based in Kabul.
Sima designed the Alina collection for Turquoise Mountain’s artisans. It has been inspired by the diversity of Afghanistan’s tribes and their coming together to build a peaceful future.
The collection takes embroidery motifs such as stars, flowers and petals combined with Afghan semi-precious stones such as Lapis and Turquoise to create authentic and stunning pieces.
Embroidery in Afghanistan is done by women and young girls who create exquisite work to express themselves. They communicate visual stories to their close relations, from mother to daughter and tribe to tribe and maybe even to the wider world, thus ensuring the survival of their handed down traditions. They are also used to celebrate festive occasions.
They are works of beauty and love, sparkling with motifs and patterns representing the sun, the moon, fruits, animals, landscapes, colours and exotic trees and flowers.
The women equally embroider for their values and their love for their husbands and children. The embroideries serve to decorate fabrics used for curtains, cushions, dresses and shawls amongst others.
Each region has their individual styles and themes to which are added the women’s imagination and story telling and filled with personal pride.
The highlight of the collection is the Afghan Tribes Peace Brooch which features charms that represent the different tribes.
2018 – present
